Towards a fundamental understanding of defluidisation at high temperatures: a micro-mechanistic approach

A micro-mechanistic approach is employed here, in order to explain the fluidisation behaviour of the equilibrium catalyst E-Cat. This work is based on previous observations, reported elsewhere, of the increase in particle interactions when fluidising E-Cat powder at high temperatures (up to 200 °C). Our approach provides insight into the understanding of the bonding mechanisms developed between pairs of particles at these temperatures. The determination of drying curves at 100, 150 and 200 °C, together with the experimental validation of the thermo-mechanical analysis carried out on E-Cat samples, are discussed; furthermore, details of a unique device, termed the high temperature micro-force balance (HTMFB) and based on a micromanipulation technique that couples force measurement with direct observation, are presented.