A model for the non-isothermal drying of particle-laden pastes

A one-dimensional theoretical model for the non-isothermal drying of particle-laden pastes on solid substrates is developed and solutions of the model transport equations for the mass fractions of the liquid mixture components, the particle volume fraction and the thermal energy are presented. The aim of the drying process is to produce a homogeneous layer of particles embedded in a binder matrix with a controlled microstructure. The shrinkage of the liquid layer due to the solvent evaporation may be either faster or slower than the particle sedimentation. Numerical solutions of the transport equations subject to initial and boundary conditions for an industrial process show that the former case prevails here. The results are particle packings with variable particle volume fractions, which may change with both the initial and the drying conditions. A guideline for proper selection of the initial and drying conditions ensuring a homogeneous particle packing emerges. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.