You are about to discover the one secret feature the makes it super easy to handle titanium dioxide and other poor flowing pigment powders.
The problems in the handling of titanium dioxide are well known, either by its bad reputation or by experience. TiO2’s small particle size, cohesiveness, and irregular shapes make it stick everywhere. Also, the better grades of pigment are harder to handle.
A standard holding hopper will cause titanium dioxide powder to bridge and not discharge. Hammer Rash is the result of trying to make Ti02 flow.
If you throw TiO2 on a wall, it will stick.
Titanium dioxide clings to pneumatic conveyor equipment surfaces. It rat holes and bridges in hoppers. Some say it will stick if it is thrown on a wall. This cohesiveness makes processes using TiO2 unreliable requiring constant maintenance.
Vibratory bin dischargers won’t work.
The use of mechanical devices to assist flow like vibratory bin dischargers, vibrators, air blasters and air sweeps were noisy and caused damage to the plant structure. Also, they were not effective in helping make the pneumatic systems reliable.
And the secret is…
We have found the secret to efficient handling of pigments, especially TiO2. The secret is to develop a layer of air or gas for the material to slide on while not fluidizing the material. It is similar to how a hockey table works. The hockey puck rides on a layer of air when you hit it across the table.
TransFlow® technology is the only method for creating a layer of air or gas so the cohesive material will slide while not fluidizing the material. Powder and solids handling equipment using TransFlow® technology can efficiently handle titanium dioxide, other pigments, and other poor flowing cohesive powders.
What is TransFlow®?
The TransFlow® technology consists of a media constructed of porous 316 stainless steel with an ultra-smooth finished contact surface. Media produces an evenly distributed layer of air that separates the bulk material from the media. This bed of air makes it easy for the pigment to slide. The media is manufacturing with a precise control of permeability and strength. And then it is incorporated into valves, safety grates, bins, hoppers and silo cones as well as aeration pads, transitions, downspouts and pneumatic conveyors.
Powder handling equipment available with TransFlow®.
Bulk material handling equipment manufactured by Young Industries, Inc. use TransFlow® technology for efficiently handling of cohesive powders.
Several producers and users of titanium dioxide other cohesive materials use TransFlow®. Producers like DuPont, Chemours, and Cristal Global and users like BASF, Sherwin Williams, Valspar and Specialty Coating have been using these systems in their plants throughout the world. These systems use the Trans-Flow® media strategically place in several of the system components.
If you want more detail about TransFlow® applications, read the TransFlow® Products section on our website.