Formalization of the process and development of an algorithm for solid-phase mixing of components of a heterogeneous composite material

The article considers one of the approaches to modeling the process of mixing of polydisperse powders, which includes three main fractions of different sizes, the shape of which is close to spherical. The work is aimed at reducing material costs at the stage of development of mixing processes by reducing the number of experiments. Aiming to obtain the most uniform mixing with the minimum time of the technological process, the model is based on the target function for a certain number of iterations of mixing of the composition to obtain the required (maximum possible) density of the package of mixed solid particles. To develop a model of the mixing process, one of the heuristic algorithms – the “metal annealing method” – was used. As a representative element of the model, an elementary cell in the form of several hexagonal densely. Packed particles around one introduced into the composition of the composite material (in a small amount, from 5 to 15 %) as a modifier was adopted. The mo del is formalized with the condition of averaging the particle sizes within each fraction, as well as the morphology of their surface. The number of particle repackaging iterations is calculated by the probability of obtaining the minimum amount of voids in the representative element and the uniformity of distribution of the modifying element. Comparison of the values obtained during the simulation with the measured values of the mixing results on a specific mixer will form a scale of compliance of the simulation results with the operating modes of the process equipment. This will make it possible to predict the appropriate mixing modes at the stage of development of the technological process with the possible system of fluctuations in the characteristics of the supplied raw materials and, thereby, to create a methodological basis for the formation of quality management of manufacturing heterogeneous composite material. The model can be adapted for polydisperse powders with the content of the main fractions of more than three.