Chemical and rheological properties effects from different parameters in horizontal agitator bead mill process on sulfur dispersion

• Main Authors: Omar, Mohamad Firdaus, Mohamad, Nuriah, Azmi, Azlin Suhaida, Ali, Fathilah, Anuar, Hazleen, Mohd Nasir, Nur Aimi
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: Science & Engineering Research Support Society 2020
• Subjects: QD Chemistry; T Technology (General)
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/87946/1/87946_Chemical%20And%20Rheological%20Properties%20Effects%20From%20Different.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/87946/2/87946_Chemical%20And%20Rheological%20Properties%20Effects%20From%20Different%20SCOPUS.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/87946/; http://sersc.org/journals/index.php/IJAST/article/view/13805/7074

Solid-liquid interactions are often associated with particle agglomerations and incomplete homogeneous system; thus grinding mill is one of the best unit operation employed by industries as a mean to counteract such drawbacks. Separately, knowing that the target of any processing plants is to reduce wastages by optimizing their unit operation’s parameters, this paper detailed relatively on the approach to accomplish the organizational goal – by applying Taguchi’s experimental design and analysis from Six Sigma. The optimization analysis has been successfully employed in this study; by the production of sulfur dispersion with its grinding mill’s motor speed and pump rate as factors, whereby the dispersion’s viscosity, pH, Total Solids Content (TSC) and particles size in D90 as their consequent responses. The experimental run was done in an industrial-scale horizontal agitator bead mill process with 60 liters of production capacity. Despite on the reduced number of experimental runs using Taguchi’s L9 orthogonal array, a total of 27 total runs have been performed and the optimized parameters can be seen at relatively higher motor speed and pump rate of 700 to 800 revolution per minute (rpm) and at 350 liters per minute (L/min) respectively; via the analysis of graphical representations on the responses of both factors towards their respective smaller-the-better means and larger-the-better S/N ratio methods. Plus, it can be seen that all of the sulfur dispersion’s chemical specifications are affected by both the experimental factors, but most predominantly is the particle size. Since sulfur dispersion has been widely used in the incorporation from rubber compounding procedure, this study shall provide a way in continuous product quality improvement – especially in rubber or polymer business and industrial applications.