Optimized Drying of Nano sized anisotropic particles in suspensions to improved aerosol dispersions.

The US Army has underscored the importance of developing more effective obscurant material for shielding US soldiers and their equipment from visible, microwave, and infrared observation. Current separation techniques tend to allow the nano-particles to agglomerate at higher density than desired for efficient obscurant devices. ElectroDynamic Applications, Inc. (EDA) in partnership with the University of Michigan (UM) proposes to explore the extension of a AFOSR sponsored Phase-II STTR space propulsion technology for use in the efficient and safe extraction of nano-sized obscurant material from a liquid suspension while causing minimal damage and agglomeration of the particles. The nano-particle Field Extraction Thruster (nanoFET) space propulsion device currently under development by UM and EDA has successfully demonstrated the extraction of nano-particles from a liquid solution and the new nano-particle Field Extraction Separation (nanoFES) technology will build on initial work done under the nanoFET program. The primary difference between both technologies is requirement of space versus terrestrial environments. The nanoFES will not be limited by system mass, size or a power budget limitations typically imposed by space systems. It is the belief of the EDA/UM team that nanoFES technology can significantly improve upon existing technology and help the US military meet its goals.