Infrared Visualization of Automotive Paint Spray Transfer Process

An Infrared thermography based visualization technique for automotive paint spray is presented. Two common automotive paint applicators were studied using this technique and the results presented. The paint applicators studied were high-speed rotary bell atomizer and low pressure air atomizer. The technique uses a uniformly heated blackbody emitter as a background. The emitted infrared energy from the background passing through the spray is attenuated by the droplets in the spray. The attenuated intensity is captured by an infrared camera, to form a two-Dimensional image of the spray flow field. From the acquired intensity image, the entire spray flow field structure is visualized and the result discussed.