Flowability Explained

Flowability, also known as powder flow is a property that defines an ability of a powdered material to flow, related to cohesion.^[1]

Powder flowability depends on many traits:^{[1] [2]}

• the shape and size of the powder particles due to intermolecular force,
• porosity
• electrostatic activity
• hygroscopy
• bulk density
• angle of repose
• presence of glidants
• oxidation rate (of a metallic powder)
• humidity

ISO 4490:2018 norm (and its precedent, ISO 4490:2014) standardizes a method for determining the flow rate of metallic powders. It uses a normalized/calibrated funnel, named Hall flowmeter.^[3]

See also

• Fluid mechanics
• Soil mechanics
• Cohesion (geology)
• angle of repose

Notes and References

1. Web site: Karolina Szulc, Andrzej Lenart . 2009 . WŁAŚCIWOŚCI KOHEZYJNE WYBRANYCH PROSZKÓW SPOŻYWCZYCH . Cohesive properties of chosen edible powders . Warsaw University of Life Sciences . pl.
2. Web site: Badanie własności proszków . Examining properties of powders . pl.
3. Web site: ISO 4490:2014 . 2022-11-21 . ISO . en.