Study of Mean Free Path Effects on Growth of Ultrafine Metallic Aerosols.
Abstract
The dynamics of aerosol formation in gaseous atmospheres ranging from conditions at the earth's surface to those in the extreme upper atmosphere are being investigated. The research involves theoretical and experimental determination of the behavior of ultrafine aerosol particles at high concentrations. The normal diffusion-limited coagulation and growth of aerosols is expected to be strongly modified as the particle diameter and the interparticle separation approach the mean free path of the gas molecules. Under reduced pressure conditions, the metallic aerosol produced is very complex in shape, and the use of fractal descriptions was investigated. The report details the kind of fractal analysis used. It shows that the particles have fractal characteristics which describe stages of growth and that the pressure under which the particles are grown does influence the growth structure. At very low pressure, the particles formed by the exploding wire generator appear to evaporate before they can solidify. Keywords: growth of metallic aerosls, and Exoatmosphere.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 31, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA173068
Entities
People
- Philip A. Lawless
Organizations
- RTI International