The Ubiquitous and Strange World of Particle Technology

Dr. Karl Jacob

The Dow Chemical Company, Engineering & Process Science/Solids Processing

Date: October 4, 2012

Time: 4:00 pm

Location: Engr II Rm 1519

As you read this, look at the room around you. Nearly every article surrounding you was in particulate form at one point during its manufacture. For example, we have the pellets that formed the carpet fibers, the pigments that are in the paint, the ceramics in our coffee cups, etc. Yet, despite the ubiquitous nature of bulk solids, very little attention is given to the subject from either a research or educational perspective. This is the case even though Merrow has chronicled the failures of solids-based plants for the last quarter of a century. This lecture will address the importance of solids processing/particle technology to the chemical engineering community and society as a whole, especially in emerging areas like bio- and nanotechnology, energy storage materials, high performance polymers, etc. In addition, we will examine two recent research problems which we’ve explored in our laboratories that highlight the often strange and counterintuitive world of particle technology. One problem examines the role fines play (or don’t?!) in the flow of bulk solids. The second problem proves the old adage, "a picture is worth a 1000 words", by using high speed imaging to elucidate the fundamentals behind the flow of elastic polymers in dilute phase pneumatic conveying systems. These problems are a snapshot of the chemical engineering science investigated by The Dow Chemical Company.

Karl Jacob is a Fellow in Engineering & Process Sciences at The Dow Chemical Company. He is founder of the Solids Processing Lab at Dow and for the last quarter of a century has worked on a vast array of particle technology problems, with particular expertise in silo/hopper design, powder mechanics, pneumatic conveying, particle engineering and drying. He is past chair of the Particle Technology Forum and presently on the Board of Directors for AIChE. Karl is a chemical engineering graduate of Case Western Reserve University.