Project overview

This project aims to investigate the use of blended propellants to replace hydrofluorocarbons in technical aerosols.

This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of multiphase fluid mechanics and aerosol science through a combination of modelling, optical and synchrotron X-ray measurement techniques.

Expected outcomes of this project include a capacity to develop environmentally friendly technical aerosol formulations which can match and potentially outperform currently available hydrofluorocarbon-based products. This should provide significant benefits to the pharmaceutical industry through the generation of new knowledge regarding the fundamental physics of multicomponent sprays.

Emeritus Professor Damon Honnery explains that his laboratory has an extensive capability to measure sprays used in engines. And, quite remarkably, the components of those spray systems are very similar to the sprays used in asthma inhalers.

"So I like to think of the asthma inhaler as a fuel system, but with a cooler spray,” Damon says. “The canister is the fuel tank, if you like, and the nozzle and the spray actuator is the fuel delivery system.”

For more about this project, click here.