A SHOCK AND EXPANSION WAVE-DRIVEN POWDER DISPERSER

The paper describes a method for dispersing small (micro- and milligram) quantities of dry powder using a shock and expansion wave technique. The batch-wise operating apparatus aerosolizes any particulate matter with primary particles down to the submicrometer size range. Depending on the initial pressure situation and on the powder mass to be dispersedthe degree of dispersion or the fraction of agglomerates can be adjusted in a wide range. For calibration purposes monodisperse aerosols can also be generated employing monosized powders. The operating characteristics of the device are presented. © 1990 Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc.