SPHERICAL AGGLOMERATION OF BARIUM SULPHATE

The mechanical agglomeration of barium sulphate suspended in organic media into essentially spherical masses has been studied. The presence of a small quantity of water is necessary for the phenomenon to occur. This is regarded as a bridging agent that forms liquid lenses between the particles and binds them together. An equilibrium is set up for this water between the surface of the solid and the bulk suspending medium. The methods of formation of the spherical agglomerates are discussed and their properties examined.