Influence of Particle Shape on the Drying Regime Maps for Platelike Particle-Polymer Composites.

In previous works, the influence of drying conditions on the particle distribution in filled polymer films was investigated using spherical silica particles and polystyrene pellets. The results showed that changing drying conditions can influence the particle distribution in a dry film. These were summarized in drying regime maps to predict the distribution of the particles in the final film; the particles accumulate at the top of the coating (evaporation regime) or sink to the bottom (sedimentation regime) or remain homogeneously distributed (diffusion regime).