Coating flows can be defined as a laminar free surface flows, whereby a liquid layer is applied onto a solid substrate. A typical industrial application consists of co-rotating cylindrical rollers, which are used to apply a liquid coating (paint) onto a moving substrate, and depending on the direction of the rollers, can be configured in either forward or reverse mode. These types of coating solution flows are industrially important applications, and convey viscoelastic aspects due to their polymeric content and unsteady polymeric behaviour. The process often possesses localized regions of high shear and extension rates (narrow nip and wetting-line zones), which may cause instabilities on the coated substrate (ribbing, leveling, striping). These non-Newtonian and viscoelastic studies for industrial reverse roll coating focus on the use of computational techniques to model these types of coating flows, alongside the analysis of the fluid flow behaviour and under varied rheological properties. Two flow problem configurations have been considered, a model benchmark problem of mixed combined-separating flow, and the industrial application of reverse roll coating flow. Predictions and corresponding solutions are reported for viscous, inelastic and complex viscoelastic fluid properties. The numerical formulation adopts a Taylor-Galerkin pressure-correction (TGPC) scheme, using a finite element method for viscous, inelastic flows and a hybrid finite element/finite volume method for their viscoelastic counterparts. The research plan is centered around computational fluid dynamics and rheological studies, with the main target focused on industrial roll-coating operations. From simple theory, Newtonian and non-Newtonian coating flows possess specific, yet disparate characteristics. This may lead to distinct and significant differences in their detailed flow behaviour, and in the stressing levels generated, dependent upon the nature of the flow configuration. The study is segmented into several stages: initially, solution was sought for a benchmark flow problem, where a semi- implicit time stepping finite element procedure was employed to simulate a mixed combined- separating flow. Here, both viscous and viscoplastic material approximations have been introduced. Secondly, the industrial application of reverse roll coating flow was addressed for viscous inelastic coating fluids. This incorporated scenarios of inclusion and not of a dynamic wetting line and consideration of the effects of a rubber elastomer-cover upon the applicator roll. Thirdly, viscoelastic paint coatings were addressed for the industrial reverse roll coating flow. Here, a hybrid finite element/finite volume sub-cell method was utilized, and with inclusion of a dynamic wetting line. Of the various viscoelastic material models available, use has been made of the Phan-Thien Taimer (PTT) network class of models, in both linear and exponential variety, and of the FENE class of models, with FENE-CR and FENE-P versions. This has offered a richness in capacity over variation of rheological properties. The choice of computational methods has been justified and the TGPC algorithm was deemed suitable for problem solution. The methodology tested on combined-separating flow provided high-quality numerical results, which compare favorably against experiments, literature and theory. When applied to the reverse roll coating problem, the TGPC algorithm has been coupled to a time-dependent free-surface update procedure, to determine the dynamic movement of the meniscus and the wetting line. Around the nip-region, the flow problem manifests strong flow features, which have been investigated for a range of rheological properties of varying shear and extensional response. The direct impact these have on localized peak nip-pressures and distributional lift levels has been observed, where several relief mechanisms have been successfully identified (important to optimize process control). The influence of solvent fraction, extensional viscosity and increasing elasticity, up to critical stress states have been analysed in considerable detail. In summary, the success of this work indicates optimal flow process settings and preferential Theological coating properties to employ, with respect to this industrial coating process. As such, it lays the foundation and guide towards achieving a stable and consistent coating application - specifically, as high-speed high-gain production is of current demanded.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:678448 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Echendu, Shirley Ogechukwu Somtochukwu |
| Publisher | Swansea University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa42470 |
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