It is of great importance to obtain the uniform layer thickness in the multi-layer co-extrusion processes. In the present study, the three-dimensional numerical simulation was carried out using the open source code named OpenFOAM(R) to understand the flow characteristics in the multi-layer die. In this numerical study, Multi-thin-layers were successfully computed depending on the number of repeating units. The generation mechanism for the multi-layer was numerically verified by the flow simulation and visualization in the co-extrusion die using OpenFOAM(R). The results suggested that the multi-layer has a divided and folded mechanism similar to the stretching and folding in the chaotic flow.

The impact and spreading behaviors of silicon dioxide nanoparticle colloidal suspension droplets were quantitatively visualized using a high-speed imaging system. Millimeter-scale droplets were generated by a syringe pump and a needle. Droplets of different velocity were impacted on a non-porous solid surface. Images were consecutively recorded using a CMOS high-speed camera at 5000 fps (frames per second) for millimeter-scale droplets. Temporal variations of droplet diameter, velocity and maximum spreading diameters were evaluated from the sequential images captured for each experimental condition. Effects of Reynolds number, Weber number, and particle concentration were investigated experimentally.