Abstract

The conventional spraying of gels has a hallmark characteristic of requiring high operating pressures to supply sufficient energy for atomization. As a result, much of the existing research on sprayable gels has focused on applications that allow for such high pressures (Mallory 2012, Saurabh, et al. 2022). A form of gel known as hydrogels represents a group of water-based gels that can be derived from natural or synthetic materials, presenting an alternative due to their unique rheological properties. These materials are typically shear-thinning and may exhibit thermoreversibility, both of which can significantly reduce effective viscosity under appropriate conditions. Independently or in combination, both properties have the capacity to greatly reduce the viscosity of a gel to a point where high pressures may not be necessary for atomization. This potential is further supported by air blast atomization, a process in which a high-velocity air jet provides the energy needed for atomization. Rather than relying on pressure-driven shear within the liquid, the fast-moving gas jet in an airblast atomizer generates shear at the gas-liquid interface, creating more turbulence than otherwise possible for a given liquid velocity. This process is highly dependent on the nozzle geometry, and liquid properties, with each factor contributing to different aspects of the atomization process. Additionally, interactions with the air-liquid ratio by way of the effective shear rate on a liquid provide additional effects. Therefore, this demonstrates that when using a shear-thinning fluid in an airblast atomization system the effective shear rate on the fluid is a highly impactful factor in the properties of the spray created. By using air blast atomization, a gel spray system can operate under far lower pressures than would typically be needed for more conventional methods of atomization, allowing for spray gels to be used in more commonplace scenarios.

Publication Date

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Mechanical Engineering (MS)

College

College of Engineering Technology

Advisor

Jennifer O’Neil

Advisor/Committee Member

Christopher Lewis

Advisor/Committee Member

Larry Villasmil

Comments

This thesis has been embargoed. The full-text will be available on or around 5/12/2027.

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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