Flowability is a crucial characteristic of powder coatings. Powders with good flowability are easily atomized, carry strong electrostatic charges, and achieve high deposition efficiency on metal workpieces. At the same time, the coating thickness is uniform, the amount of overspray (drifting and awaiting recovery) is minimal, and wear on spray guns and powder pipes is reduced.
A Powder Flow Tester is mainly used to:
Measure the flow rate, flow time, or flow behavior of powders under gravity or vibration.
Evaluate powder bulk density and tapped density.
Analyze whether powders are prone to clogging or caking during production, storage, or transportation.
Support formulation improvement and process optimization (e.g., uniformity in powder coating spraying).
Powder flow testing can be done using several methods:
Free Flow / Gravitational Method
Powder flows freely through a funnel or tube; flow time or rate is recorded.
Common for powder coatings and chemical powders.
Vibration / Angle of Repose Method
Powder flow is tested under vibration or rotation, measuring the static pile angle (angle of repose).
Dynamic / Powder Rheometer Method
Powder is pushed by gas or mechanical force; sensors measure flow resistance.
Provides high precision, suitable for complex powder rheology analysis.
Measurement range: powder flow rate, flow time, bulk/tapped density, angle of repose, etc.
Accuracy: typically ±1–2% (depending on model).
Sample amount: usually tens to hundreds of grams.
Output: digital display, curve recording, or data export.
Powder Coatings: test whether powder sprays smoothly without clogging.
Pharmaceuticals: evaluate powder flow before tablet compression and mixing.
Food Industry: test flowability of sugar, milk powder, seasoning powders, etc.
Chemicals: analyze flow of dry additives, ceramics powder, fertilizers, etc.
Powder flow testers are mainly used to measure flowability, bulk density, and other powder properties. Relevant standards include:
| Category | Standard | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Powder Flow | ASTM B213 | Flow rate measurement of metal powders using funnel method |
| Powder Flow | ISO 4490 | Measurement of free-flowing time of powders through a funnel |
| Powder Flow / Bulk Density | ISO 3953 | Determination of bulk density and tapped density of powders |
| Powder Particle Analysis | ASTM D1895 | Measurement of powder density, volume, and loose bulk density |
| Powder Particle Analysis | ISO 4497 | Determination of powder particle size distribution and packing characteristics |
⚠ Note: Different powder types (metal, plastic, coating powders) may require specific standards.
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