Educ. Reso. for Part. Techn. 012Q-Nelson
<http://www.erpt.org/012Q/NelsW-00.htm>
Copyright © 2001 Ralph Nelson, Licensed to ERPT

Wetting Powders into Liquids

Ralph D. Nelson, Jr., PhD, PE

DuPont Co. (retired)
205 Mercury Road
Newark, DE 19711-3040
Email: ERPTmged@aol.com
Received: 2000 November 20; Accepted: 2001 April 26

Abstract: This article discusses the fundamental principles involved in wetting a powder into a liquid and describes methods for achieving rapid wet-in for industrial processes.

SCOPE: This tutorial is intended as an introduction to the concepts involved in wetting powders into liquids. For a more detailed treatment, see "Powders, Handling -- Dispersion of Powders in Liquids", by Ralph Nelson, in the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology 4th ed. (Wiley, 1997) 19: 1093-1113.

BASIS: Several elements are required to satisfactorily disperse dry clumps of solid particle in a liquid.


Sections of this Article


1. What is Interfacial Energy?
2. Wetting a Particle
3. Measuring Surface Tension
4. Wetting a Clump
5. Wet-in Devices
6. Problem: Making Paint
7. Langmuir Adsorption
Refs. Nomenclature and References
Ralph D. Nelson, Jr. earned a BA in chemistry from Colby College and a PhD in physical chemistry from Princeton University and was then appointed as an NSF-NRC Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Bureau of Standards for two years. For seven years he taught physical chemistry at Georgetown University, Middlebury College, Brown University, and West Virginia University, then earned an MSE in chemical engineering at West Virginia University.

He joined the DuPont Company in 1974 and spent twenty-five years in technical assistance to manufacturing and as an internal consultant in particle technology, retiring in 1998 as a Senior Research Associate. He wrote Dispersing Powders in Liquids (Elsevier, 1987 and 1995) and has taught continuing education courses at the Center for Professional Advancement, the Univ. of Florida, and within DuPont. He is now the managing editor of Educational Resources for Particle Technology -- a new venture in the on-line, just-in-time, free-of-charge delivery of tutorials in particle technology.


Go to ERPT home page | Vol. 2 No. 1 Table of Contents | next section