Charcoal briquettes may look normal after pressing but break during drying, packing or transportation. This problem is not always caused by the binder.
7 Common Causes of Briquette Breakage
1. Particle Size Is Too Coarse
Large particles may create weak contact points inside the briquette.
2. Binder Dosage Is Too Low
Insufficient binder may reduce bonding between charcoal particles.
3. Mixing Is Not Even
Uneven binder distribution can produce strong and weak areas in the same briquette.
4. Moisture Is Too Low
A dry mixture may be difficult to press into a stable shape.
5. Moisture Is Too High
Excess water can cause deformation and uneven shrinkage during drying.
6. Machine Pressure Is Insufficient
Low pressure may produce loose and low-density briquettes.
7. Drying Is Too Fast
Rapid surface drying may create internal stress and cracking.
How to Find the Real Cause
Breaks immediately after pressing: check moisture, binder ratio, particle size and pressure.
Breaks during drying: check water distribution and drying conditions.
Breaks during transportation: check dry strength, density and packaging.
Finding when the briquette starts to break can make troubleshooting much faster.