🔑 Key Takeaway

Humidity and temperature shifts in summer can drastically alter powder flow behavior. By controlling the environment, adjusting equipment, and testing under real conditions, you can prevent flow issues before they disrupt production. Learn more in this article about Powder Flow in Summer

How Humidity and Temperature Disrupt Flowability

In powder handling, consistency matters. A formulation that flows smoothly in winter may clog or cake during summer. The culprit often isn’t the powder or the equipment, it’s the environment. In this article we will look deeply into powder flow in summer.

PPpowder flow in summerv  Powder Flow in Summer: Humidity Changes Everything

Most powders absorb moisture from the air. During summer, relative humidity rises, even in climate-controlled rooms. This shift alters powder behavior at the surface level.

Moisture increases cohesiveness, causing particles to cling together. That leads to bridging, caking, or inconsistent discharge. A change in humidity also lowers the angle of repose, which affects hopper flow and dosing accuracy.

These issues rarely appear in dry months, making the seasonal link easy to overlook. Operators often blame the machine or the material, but in many cases, the surrounding air is the real source of trouble.

Temperature Plays a Role Too

As temperature rises, the air holds more moisture. Warmer air speeds up particle interactions and boosts electrostatic effects. That makes powders more adhesive and less predictable.

Fine or porous powders, such as spray-dried ingredients, silica, or lactose, respond quickly to environmental shifts. Even bulkier materials can suffer under poor thermal control, especially during storage or transfer.

The result: slower flow, reduced accuracy, and an increased chance of process interruptions.

What Can You Do?

Seasonal variation isn’t just a lab curiosity. It affects process stability, yield, and output. Fortunately, you can take action.

1. Control the Environment Where It Matters Most

  • Use dehumidifiers in sensitive areas like weighing rooms or feeder zones.

  • Seal hoppers and conveyors to reduce exposure to moist air.

  • Limit open transfers, and install airlocks or gloveboxes where needed.

2. Pre-Condition Your Powders

  • Store in low-humidity zones before use. Avoid leaving materials in open containers.

  • Use desiccant liners or sealed drums for moisture-sensitive materials.

  • Monitor storage conditions and log seasonal fluctuations.

3. Modify Hopper and Feeder Design

  • Add vibration, air pads, or liners to minimize friction and buildup.

  • Check wall angles and outlet dimensions, even small changes can reduce bridging.

  • Avoid narrow flow paths that increase the risk of compaction.

4. Adjust Formulations or Add Flow Agents

  • Evaluate anti-caking additives or surface treatments to stabilize flow behavior.

  • If allowed, reduce moisture content to maintain performance during humid months.

5. Test Under Real Conditions

  • Replicate summer conditions during lab tests. Standard conditions may not reflect reality.

  • Use humidity chambers to simulate 25°C and 75% RH, and assess response.

  • Retest routinely, especially when dealing with new supplier batches or seasonal shifts.

Powder Flow in Summer: Insights That Matter

If your powder doesn’t behave the same in summer, it’s not your imagination. Humidity and temperature change particle behavior. But you can stay ahead.

Track conditions, adapt your setup, and test what matters. Flow consistency begins with understanding the variables you can’t always see.