Briquetting Process

Briquetting units transform fine materials, whether cold or hot (i.e. from -40°C up to + 1000°C) in various shapes, sizes and volumes (from a few cc to 600 cc and more). These characteristics are defined according to the product end use. The briquetting process allows to reduce the volume of the powder by its densification to reach briquettes with a true density of about 5g/cm3.

The capacity of a briquetting line can range from 50 kg/h to 100 T/h.

The briquettes are obtained at low or high pressure (from 5 to 180 kN/cm) and can undergo mechanical or heat treatment depending on the characteristics of the treated material and the desired final product.

If the cohesive forces (particulate cohesion, valence forces, recrystallization, van Der Waals forces…) between the particles are low, a binder has to be used before agglomeration. The physical properties of the feed material, the end use of the briquettes and the cost of binder addition have to be taken into account before a selection is made. A large variety of (liquid or solid) binders is offered: starch, bentonite, bitumen, lime, cement, water, flour, lignosulphonates, molasses, polymer, resin, sodium silicate, fibers such as paper pulp, etc…