Characterization of the porosity-pressure relation of cohesionless powders

An experimental investigation is presented of the effect of the particle size distribution on the compaction of cohesionless powders. It is demonstrated that the densification of a powder during compaction may be treated as a (pseudo-) rate process, and the porosity-pressure relation can be described by a simple and general equation. The results indicate that particle size distribution plays an important role in quantifying the porosity-pressure relation, though this relation may be dominated by the mechanical properties of powders at high pressures. A possible method of predicting the relationship between porosity and particle size distribution and pressure is also discussed.