Nonlinear viscoelastic breakup in a high-velocity airstream

Weiss and Worsham's predictions for atomization in high-velocity airstreams appear valid even when extended to higher viscosity fluids than originally derived. Newtonian, and viscoelastic fluids show different breakup mechanisms in high-velocity airstreams, as shown by injection photos, mass median diameters and drop-size distributions. Although not because of increase in viscosity alone, addition of polymer increases resultant particle size from liquids. For a given polymer, mass median diameter (MMD) versus lambda correlation derived from Weber style analysis (using the conjectural elongational viscosity model) predicts performance when concentration is varied. The first normal stress difference measured for viscoelastic solutions correlated well with their dissemination performance MMD.