A charcoal briquette may look strong after pressing but develop cracks during drying. When this happens, both the briquetting process and drying conditions should be checked.
1. Too Much Water
Excess moisture can cause large shrinkage during drying and increase the risk of cracks.
2. Too Little Water
Insufficient moisture may reduce forming quality and binder distribution.
3. Uneven Moisture
Poor mixing can create wet and dry areas inside the same briquette.
4. Uneven Binder Distribution
Areas with less binder may become weak points during drying.
5. Briquette Size
Large briquettes normally require more controlled drying because internal moisture needs more time to move outward.
6. Drying Temperature Is Too High
If the surface dries much faster than the center, internal stress may cause cracking.
7. Uneven Briquette Density
Unstable feeding or machine pressure can create density differences inside the briquette.
What Should Be Recorded?
During testing, record:
water addition + binder dosage + briquette size + drying temperature + drying time + first appearance of cracks
This makes it easier to identify whether the problem comes from forming or drying.