Submicron Aerosol Losses in Aluminized Mylar Bags

Abstract

Aluminized Mylar bags are used by many researchers to store aerosol samples for later analysis. Our results show that the rate of deposition of unipolar unit-charged aerosols to the walls can be extremely high and is unpredictable for different bags that by inspection appear to be in identical condition. Filling losses and the rate of decay of monodispersed unit-charged aerosols smaller than 0.2 ?m in aluminized Mylar bags were shown to be strongly dependent on the electrostatic charges existing on the bags' surfaces despite the aluminum coating; for monodispersed charge-equilibrated aerosols the rate of deposition was much lower. Application of antistatic agents to the bags' interior or exterior surfaces increased the lifetimes of aerosols stored within. But the application of the antistatic agent tested did not completely neutralize the charges residing on the surfaces of the bags. A paper bag with an interior aluminum foil coating was shown to be far superior to the aluminized Mylar bag in handling convenience and for aerosol storage. A method for estimating aerosol deposition rate limits in the absence of electrostatic fields was deduced.