PE Wax Microparticle Production by External Mixing Two-Fluid Nozzle Atomization Process
Kulchanat Prasertsit*, Ubonwan Madua, Paiboon Innachitra and Tanakorn Keatkhunboot* Author for corresponding; e-mail address: kulchanat.k@psu.ac.th
Volume: Vol.43 No.4 (JULY 2016)
Research Article
DOI:
Received: 18 December 2012, Revised: -, Accepted: 5 January 2015, Published: -
Citation: Prasertsit K., Madua U., Innachitra P. and Keatkhunboot T., PE Wax Microparticle Production by External Mixing Two-Fluid Nozzle Atomization Process, Chiang Mai Journal of Science, 2016; 43(4): 818-824.
Abstract
The effects of atomizing temperature, air pressure and air to liquid diameter ratio on particle size, particle size distribution and shape were studied in a polyethylene wax (PE wax) atomization process in the external mixing two-fluid nozzle atomizer. PE wax was melted and atomized at temperatures ranging from 120˚C to 180˚C, and atomizing air pressure was applied at pressures ranging from 1 to 7 bars. The results indicate that the particle size and bulk density of the PE wax particles decreased as the liquid cap diameter decreased and the air pressure and/or the melting temperature increased. The micrograph from a scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that the atomization process produced smooth spherical PE wax particles.