Abstract

We have developed a method to produce discrete microparticles from compounds dissolved in nonpolar or polar solvents using drop-on-demand inkjet printer technology. A piezoelectric inkjet printhead located atop a drying tube produces precise droplets containing defined quantities of analyte. Droplets solidify into microparticles with known composition and size as they traverse down the drying tube. Because this is a drop-on-demand printing process, a known number of droplets are produced providing quantitative particle delivery to a variety of substrates. Particular emphasis is placed on the development and characterization of the drying tube in this work. The drying tube was modeled using computational fluid dynamics and experimentally evaluated using laser-based flow visualization techniques. A notable design feature of the drying tube is the ability to push heated air through the tube rather than the need to pull air from the exit. This provides the ability to place a known number of well-defined particles onto almost any substrate of interest, rather than having to collect particles onto a filter first and then transfer them to another surface. Several types of particles have been produced by this system, examples of which are pure particles of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine ranging from 10 μm to 30 μm in diameter, and ammonium nitrate particles of 40 μm diameter. The final particle size is directly related to the solute concentration of the printing solution and the size of the initial jetted droplet.

Highlights

  • Trace explosives detection is a rapidly evolving screening technology based on the analysis of the chemical signatures from trace residues of explosives

  • Several types of particles have been produced by this system, examples of which are pure particles of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine ranging from 10 μm to 30 μm in diameter, and ammonium nitrate particles of 40 μm diameter

  • We have found that particle production with this system is at optimum performance levels when the droplet ejection frequency is 10 Hz or less

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Summary

INTRODUCTION

Trace explosives detection is a rapidly evolving screening technology based on the analysis of the chemical signatures from trace residues of explosives These residues are typically in the form of small solid particles that are a few to tens of micrometers in diameter.. Applications and fields-of-study for monodisperse droplets/particles are as wide-ranging as the techniques used to produce them. These fields relate to chemical engineering, electronics and solar cells,8 3D printing and additive manufacturing, food and agriculture, powder metallurgy, ceramics, and many others. Building upon a system initially designed by the U.S Army, a new drying tube has been designed, fabricated, and tested to produce monodisperse particles made of explosive compounds. The new drying tube and optimized control of the inkjet printer provide an improved particle generator for our specific homeland security application

System design and optimization
Data collection and imaging
RDX particle production
Ammonium nitrate particle production
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