Improving Aerosol Dispersion through Processing and Dissemination Techniques

Abstract

The state of dispersion is a vital aspect of powder technology impacting both traditional and emerging technologies in many diverse areas of interest including health care, industry, the environment, and the military. In such applications, the properties and quality of the resultant product will be directly and noticeably affected by the degree to which the particles are dispersed. In any operation where satisfactory particle dispersion is imperative, a reduction in dispersion, or increased agglomeration, leads to poor efficiency and ultimately results in lower yields and increased cost. As powder technology moves into the nano-age, the challenges of maintaining and improving particle dispersion become increasingly important. Decreasing particle size into the submicron range can significantly increases the effect of surface forces leading to an increase in the cohesive forces of the powder, thus, making an understanding of dispersion even more essential. In order to develop the knowledge base to understand and control aerosol dispersion, a fundamental study into significant powder characteristics and environmental conditions that influence dispersion has been conducted. This paper discusses the results of testing various techniques employed to improve the dispersion of sub-micron aluminum flakes such as using a fumed silica spacer to reduce interparticle contact area and, in turn, attractive van der Waals forces, as well as examining the effect of dissemination pressure on the state of dispersion of the particles. This research was conducted using statistical experimental design in order to efficiently study significant factors.