The application of factor analysis to evaluate deforming behaviors of directly compressed powders

In this study we present an approach that describes plasticity and deformation behavior of well-known materials based on analysis of plasticity, elasticity and fragmentary behavior. The powders were compressed using Korsch XP1, and the correlations between compaction and physical parameters were analyzed by canonical correlation analysis (CCA). Factor analysis (FA) was employed to normalize compaction work, yield pressure measurements (YP) and determine elastic stretch for all our sample; these were scored and ranked accordingly. The canonical variables showed that true density (ρa), compression degree (Cp) and mean particle size (D50) were associated with plastic coefficient (PL), YP, and fast elastic stretch (FES). When factor scores were used in combination with original data, the plasticity of our samples was sorted and ranked as high, intermediate, or low, which are in accord with plasticity rankings previously reported in literature [10]. Hence, physical and compaction data interval was established that evaluated powder deformation behavior during compaction. Finally, FA was used to further characterize deformation behavior during compaction.