DEVELOPMENT OF AGGLOMERATED TALC-II - OPTIMIZATION OF THE PROCESSING PARAMETERS FOR THE PREPARATION OF GRANULATED TALC

Agglomerated talc was prepared by the wet granulation method using a p lanetary mixer and a high speed mixer. The effect of the amount of wat er added and granulation time for the planetary mixer on the physical properties of the agglomerated talc were investigated by a response su rface design. The speed of the agitator and granulation time for the h igh speed mixer were selected as the two independent variables to stud y the granulation processing using the same statistical design. Severa l characteristics of the product prepared by a planetary mixer or high speed mixer were well expressed as a quadratic function of the two in dependent variables studied in coded level. By superimposing contour p lots of granule friability and percent fine of granule, a region was o btained where the requirements of friability and percent fines could b e satisfied by controlling the processing variables. The optimal granu lation condition was chosen from that region. The values of the measur ed responses of the agglomerated talc produced using the optimal granu lation condition agreed well with the predicted values obtained from t he regression equations.