DETERMINATION OF AGGLOMERATE STRENGTH DISTRIBUTIONS .4. ANALYSIS OF MULTIMODAL PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS

An agglomerate strength determination technique, consisting of exposing sample dispersions to a calibrated ultrasonic field and following the resultant changes via particle size analysis, has been previously developed in this laboratory. However, the multimodal nature of the resultant particle size distribution did not allow for the determination of breakdown mechanisms for the agglomerates. A numerical procedure has been prepared to deconvolute the multimodal particle size distribution into several constituents each with a log-normal distribution. By doing so, it becomes possible to follow variations in the particle size distribution with respect to the change in mass fraction of a specific constituent due to different irradiating conditions. This information is then used to relate particle degradation to the particle strength distribution and the mechanism of breakage.