Factors affecting the Heubach and MRI dustiness tests

The effect of test parameters upon material dustiness measured by the Heubach dust measurement appliance and the MRI dustiness tester was studied. The users of these tests can alter test parameters such as flow rate, sampling time, mass of material tested, bulk density, and vibrator setting. The effect of these parameters upon the aerosol produced in the dustiness tester was experimentally studied. All of the parameters affected in a complicated manner, the amount of dust and the size distribution of the dust generated during these tests. Therefore, dustiness test results should not be adjusted for variations in test parameters. The users of dustiness tests need to carefully control dustiness test parameters in order to have reproducible dustiness tests.