Abstract
Polymethylmethacrylate latex particles have been manufactured and tested in laser light as flow visualisation aids in both photographic and laser-Doppler anemometer studies. For a laser-Doppler anemometer system the authors have found that the signal-to-noise ratio is high. A surface coating of poly-12-hydroxystearic acid is known to prevent flocculation in n-hexane. Studies in electrically stressed (5 V m-1), purified n-hexane subject to unipolar injection of positive ions have shown no adverse effects on 'overall' electrical resistivity or fluid stability. The combination of particle/fluid dielectric constant and small particle size result in negligible polarisation and Coulomb forces; the ability to follow the flow in electrohydrodynamic experiments is therefore retained.

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