"Experimental Considerations for Non-Newtonian Fluids in Secondary Atomization During Spray Coating Processes" 

Darien A. Dewar, MSE PhD Candidate 

Advisor: Professor Jeff Youngblood

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ABSTRACT

The study of non-Newtonian fluids in spray-coating applications has gained interest in recent years. Spray coating of cellulose nanofiber solutions has begun to draw attention in the development of sustainable packaging materials. Cellulose-based solutions exhibit non-Newtonian fluid properties. Of foremost interest are the primary and secondary atomization stages. The key instabilities considered include Rayleigh-Taylor and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. Although several studies have examined the atomization of specific polymer solutions and other non-Newtonian fluids, there are still challenges in identifying criteria for achieving consistent atomization performance. There are knowledge gaps in published studies, primarily owing to the lack of standardized experimental protocols and consistent methods that cause data comparison to be ineffective. Through a fundamental analysis of leading works in the field, this review emphasizes the need for systematic scientific investigations into the atomization of non-Newtonian fluids, not just for applications involving cellulose nanofiber solutions, but for non-Newtonian fluids in general. This document provides a concise and comprehensive review and analysis of past and current experimental and theoretical studies to provide insights into non-Newtonian spray systems and proposes avenues for future research.