Drying of clay and nonclay media: Heat and mass transfer and quality aspects

The researches on drying of clay and nonclay media are briefly reviewed and the role of drying in the manufacturing process is summarized. The drying process must be carefully controlled to maintain the desired product configuration. Inefficient completion of drying and poor operation of the dryer influence directly the product quality. The importance of R&D on the heat and moisture transfer phenomena, shrinkage mechanisms, deformation behavior, strain-stress relations and the internal pressure in the media during drying is stressed. Suggestions are given for further improvement of the drying process and improved design of the molding and casting processes for higher product quality.