Very Low Volatile Organic Compound Spray Application Process for Iron Filled Elastomeric Coatings

摘要

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase 1 project evaluated the feasibility of a new method for spraying high viscosity coatings. This new method of forming sprays uses very little VOC solvents, and has two distinguishing features: (1) The application of effervescent atomization for producing droplets independent of the fluid viscosity, and (2) a perforated aerator tube insert to control both the Sauter mean diameter (SMD, or D32) and the distribution of drop sizes. These features allow for the reduction (elimination in certain applications) of VOC carrier liquids that are required with current conventional spray nozzles. The three key tasks of the Phase I project were: (1) to design and fabricate an effervescent atomizer to spray solids filled polymeric liquids with viscosities ranging up to 120 KU, (2) to evaluate the effervescent atomizer with the high viscosity solution to assure that acceptable drop size and distribution performance is achieved, and (3) to evaluate the applicability of the spray to painting processes by measuring transfer efficiencies.