The retardation of drop breakup in high-velocity airstreams by polymeric modifiers

Abstract

Investigations are being conducted on the factors involved in the breakup of Newtonian and non-Newtonian (viscoelastic) liquids in high velocity airstreams. Viscoelastic solutions are formed by the addition of small amounts of polymeric modifiers to the test liquid. The mechanism of breakup is shown to be significantly different between the thickened and unthickened solutions. It was found that Newtonian liquid drops are broken into very fine particles by a breakup mechanism which begins with a stripping of the liquid from the surface of the drop. On the other hand, drops of non-Newtonian liquids break up by formation of ligaments rather than by surface stripping and are broken into much larger particles. An increase in viscosity by a factor of 25 in the Newtonian liquids showed no significant change in the breakup mechanism.