This disclosure relates to a novel process for atomizing a liquid material
or a mixture of liquid materials. More specifically, this disclosure
advances the art by utilizing the inertial forces created in an elevated
acceleration environment to further miniaturize and enhance the
characteristics of particles resulting from atomization. The key to this
disclosure is to subject a melt material to an elevated acceleration and
pass a fluid over the surface of the melt. The purpose of the elevated
acceleration is to elevate the relative importance of gravitational
forces in the melt thus miniaturizing any gravity influenced disturbance.
This elevated acceleration environment leads to miniaturization of
gravitationally dependent phenomena thus leading to smaller particle
creation. The purpose of the atomizing fluid is to impart kinetic energy
onto the melt thereby causing disturbances and to act as a heat transfer
media to cool the particles. In other words, this disclosure teaches not
only utilizing bursting bubbles, surface waves, and splashes to create
fine particles by purposely introducing gas flow on the liquid
material(s) to be atomized but further enhancing the process by
facilitating that these material(s) are simultaneously at elevated
acceleration. The novel aspects of this disclosure significantly enhance
the physical characteristics of the resulting particles, by allowing
smaller particles to be produced, by cooling the particles more rapidly
and by reducing contamination threats by avoiding physical contact
between the material(s) being atomized and any refractive materials.