An experimental study on infrared drying kinetics of an aqueous adhesive supported by polymer composite

• Published in: Heat and mass transfer 2017, Vol.53 (1), p.223-231
• Main Authors: Allanic, Nadine, Le Bideau, Pascal, Glouannec, Patrick, Deterre, Rémi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical and Process Engineering; Drying; Engineering; Engineering Sciences; Engineering Thermodynamics; Ethylene vinyl acetates; Fibers; Heat and Mass Transfer; Heat flux; Heat transfer; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Infrared heating; Kinetics; Materials; Micrometers; Moisture content; Original; Polyamide resins; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; Polyvinyl fluorides; Thermodynamics; Thickness
• ISSN: 0947-7411; 1432-1181
• DOI: 10.1007/s00231-016-1816-3

The infrared drying of an aqueous polymer emulsion spread on a thin composite flat film is experimentally studied. The composite film is composed of polyamide fibers supported by a poly(vinyl fluoride) film. The aqueous polymer is an Ethylene Vinyl Acetate emulsion playing the role of adhesive. It is spread over the film with a low thickness, about one hundred micrometers. The aim of this work is to understand the effects of the presence of fibers on the drying of this thin-layer product. With this in mind, a specific laboratory set up composed of a near infrared heater is used in order to get the drying kinetics. First, incident heat fluxes received at the product surface and transmittances of materials (semi-transparent medium) are measured with an ad-hoc heat flux sensor. Then, many experiments are performed with and without fibers. For linking the final moisture content to the fibers thermal and hydric behavior, a microscopic analysis of the dried samples is investigated. This analysis is performed for two thicknesses of polymer corresponding to two covering rates of fibers.