Multi-level particle packing model of ceramic agglomerates

Multi-level packing of spherical ceramic particles is simulated in three dimensions. The packing process is composed of two steps: particles are packed to make clusters and clusters are packed to make aggregates. Cluster rearrangement is simulated by randomly rolling each cluster over its neighbour's surface. The degree of cluster rearrangement during the cluster condensation process controls agglomerate compactness. This approach was possible using the simple assumption that clusters are spheres with radii equal to the mean interparticle distance in the clusters. The clusters which are rearranged have higher packing density than the clusters which are not rearranged. The effect of cluster rearrangement during condensation on the total compactness of agglomerates is found to be comparable to the effect of particle rearrangement during condensation.