Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
We present a summary of the techniques used to produce hollow plastic microshells from solid polymer granules using drop tower techniques. Unlike solution drop tower techniques, the use of these granules allows one to produce good quality shells with diameters of 1 to 1.5 mm. The reasons for hollow plastic shell diameter limitations are discussed, and based on these studies we present a new drop tower furnace concept we call a ballistic furnace that has been designed to produce large (2 to 3 mm) polystyrene shells. The characteristics of the individual components such as the pellet injector and the fast cooling system are given.