Abstract: A method and apparatus for the accurate monitoring of a granule during compression testing is provided and enables the study of breakage mechanisms that cause particle failure during compression. The method involves compressing a granule or particle with the apparatus and the apparatus is a spring device that combines a spring in parallel with the granule or particle and a spring in series with the granule or particle. Under failure conditions, sudden deformation of the granule or particle results in fast relaxation of the granule or particle during breakage and allows very careful granule breakage. Measuring or recording devices coupled to the apparatus provide for the detailed study of breakage conditions at the moment of failure and lend incite into the compression strength characteristics of the granule or particle.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for measuring granule impact strength and granule attrition rates by vibrating a small container of granules at a well-controlled amplitude in order to inflict reproducible damage to the granules. Damage to the granules is measured as a function of time and amplitude and attrition rates are measured in terms of dust generate per number of collisions versus mass of the granules. The measurements obtained yield a highly reproducible means for characterizing granule attrition, attrition rates, and fragmentation.