Green strength, also known as wet strength, refers to a pellet’s strength prior to drying. Pellets need a certain amount of strength to withstand the number of drop points during processing; this includes leaving the agglomeration equipment such as the pan pelletizer or drum agglomerator, and transportation via a conveyor to the dryer. Pellets must be strong enough to survive the entire agglomeration process.
Green strength should be tested for during agglomeration process and product development. Studying green strength during the testing phase confirms whether or not the pellets are ready for the next processing/transportation step, or if the agglomeration process needs adjusting.
Green pellets usually have very little handling strength, and testing is a relatively straightforward process. To conduct the tests, FEECO’s process experts drop the pellets on a steel plate and observe the amount of breakage, if any. If the pellet is too weak, adjustments can then be made to the binder, for example, to create more strength.
The FEECO Innovation Center staff routinely conduct green strength tests as part of their agglomeration lab work. Testing the strength of the material allows our process experts to create a durable product that can withstand further processing and ultimately meet the anticipated needs of our customers.
To learn more about testing your material in the FEECO Innovation Center, contact us today!