Controlled size polymer particle production via electrohydrodynamic atomization

Abstract

Electrohydrodynamic atomization was used for the production of controlled size and controlled physical property polymer particles. Near-monodisperse submicrometer and supermicrometer polymer particles were produced by the electrohydrodynamic atomization of both water soluble and water insoluble polymer particles. A suitable scaling law, which allows for prediction of the size of the produced polymer particles based on the polymer volume fraction and electrohydrodynamic atomization process parameters, was tested and verified. The scaling law is valid for polymer solutions for which electrohydrodynamic atomization produces pure droplets (no fibers) that do not undergo multiple explosions or give rise to coalescing particles upon collection. Electrohydrodynamic atomization can be used to produce not only controlled size polymer particles but also particles with controlled physical properties. Photoluminescent Cerium doped Y 3Al 5O 12 encapsulated poly(methyl methacrylate) composite particles were produced by electrohydrodynamic atomization, demonstrating that this simple technique can be used for advanced materials synthesis.