Bipolar coagulation for powder production: Micro-mixing inside droplets

A new process is presented where the controlled coagulation of droplets is achieved through electrical forces. The charged droplets are produced by electrosprays operated in the cone-jet model. The coagulation of oppositely charged droplets leads to the neutralization of the electrosprays. Furthermore, this coagulation enables controlled mixing on a micro-scale and subsequent chemical reactions inside the combined droplets. This process has many potential applications in the production of "tailored" particles, particles of uniform size and composition. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.