Experimental study on electrostatic atomization of highly viscous liquids

In order to apply it to the production of functional particles, the electrostatic atomization phenomenon in uniform-dispersion mode of polymer solutions with high viscosity up to 4000 mPa s was studied. The diameter of a generated droplet could be reduced from 3 to 0.1 mm with a narrow size distribution, and be controlled by volumetric flow rate and applied voltage as operating parameters. Dimensional analysis showed that all experimental data of highly viscous liquids can be arranged on a one scaling law, which determines the dimensionless diameter of the droplets, within 30% deviations. It was, however, also found that there are clearly two groups following different scaling laws i.e., if we divide the experimental data into two groups, the data in each group show better agreement with each scaling law within ±15% deviations. Solutions of polymers of sodium alginate, κ-carrageenan and carboxymethyl cellulose indicate lower dependence of volumetric flow rate on the diameter than that of low viscous liquids and the solutions of polyethylene glycol.