Electrostatic atomisation of a ceramic suspension

An alumina suspension, containing similar to 20 vol.% of powder was pumped through a needle held at a high voltage, with respect to a point-like ground electrode.. and subjected to electrostatic atomisation. The flow rate and voltage was varied between 10(-9) and 10(-8) in 3 s(-1). and 5 and 12 kV, respectively and the mode of atomisation observed was recorded to construct mode selection (M-S) maps. In the stable cone-jet mode, the jet diameter was measured as a function of flow rate and applied voltage. Alumina relics obtained in the stable cone-jet mode regime were collected and studied by optical microscopy to establish the conditions which generated the finest relics. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.