Application element for a rotary sprayer and associated operating method

An application element for a rotary atomizer comprising:

• an overflow surface which, in a coating operation, rotates with the application element and over which a coating agent that is to be applied flows, and
• a surface layer situated on the overflow surface, on which, in operation, a thin coating agent film with a generally defined film thickness forms,
• wherein a boundary surface friction acts between the coating agent film and the surface layer,
• the surface layer reduces the boundary surface friction between the coating agent film and the overflow surface,
• the coating agent is a paint, which includes a plurality of generally flat, solid paint particles with a generally defined particle length and forms the coating agent film on the surface layer, and
• the film thickness of the coating agent film on the surface layer of the overflow surface is less than the particle length of the paint particles.

A method of operation for a rotary atomizer having a rotary application element, wherein

• a) a coating agent flows over an overflow surface on the rotating application element and forms a coating agent film on the overflow surface with a defined film thickness,
• b) the boundary surface friction between the coating agent film and the overflow surface is reduced by means of a friction-reducing surface layer on the overflow surface,
• c) the coating agent being a paint which includes solid, flat paint particles which have a defined particle length and forming a paint film with a defined film thickness on the surface layer of the overflow surface,
• d) the boundary surface friction between the surface layer of the overflow surface and the paint film is sufficiently small so that the film thickness of the paint film is smaller than the particle length of the paint particles.