Textile finishing

In material refinement, materials are specifically modified through physical, chemical, or mechanical processes. The goal is to adapt product properties to specific applications. In the process, the surface, structure, or composition of a substance can be altered.

In bulk solids and process engineering, material refinement includes processes such as mixing, coating, agglomerating, granulating, drying, sterilizing, or functionalizing. Properties such as flowability, reactivity, solubility, stability, or dosage capability are improved. Material refinement takes place wherever high-quality powders are produced or further processed. Quality improvement indices can be defined, for example, as follows:

Flow index: I_flow = CI_before / CI_after

• CI = suitable cohesivity or flow characteristic; 
• depending on the method, "smaller is better" or "larger is better" applies – in which case the quotient would be inverted accordingly
•  

Compaction index: I_ρ = ρ_bulk, after / ρ_bulk, before

The "degree of refinement" of a powder is quantified using suitable characteristics (e.g., homogeneity, flowability, bulk density, or granule structure) before and after the process engineering treatment. 

Multidimensional quality indices: I_Q = f( I_mix, I_flow, I_ρ, … )

From this, dimensionless improvement factors such as I_(mix), I_(flow), or I_(ρ) can be formed, which describe the enhancement achieved through the mixing or granulation process.