Hole formation and sheeting in the drainage of thin liquid films

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Langmuir; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/la00048a029· OSTI ID:5833894

Bergeron, V; Jimenez-Laguna, A I; Radke, C J ^[1]

---

1. Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States) Univ. of California, Berkeley (United States)

Foam, emulsion, and pseudoemulsion films stabilized by surfactants above the critical micelle concentration exhibit pronounced stepwise thinning or stratification. Dynamic removal of a layer is initiated by the formation and subsequent sheeting of a hole (or holes) at each step of the stratified thinning. We outline a nonlinear hydrodynamic stability analysis which successfully models the dynamics of hole formation and sheeting by accounting for an equilibrium oscillatory structural component in the disjoining pressure isotherm. Initiation of a hole is attributed to the nonlinear growth of a hydrodynamic instability during film thinning under the action of a constant capillary pressure and an oscillatory disjoining pressure. Subsequent growth or sheeting of the hole is explained by outward fluid flow within the inhomogeneous thin film as radial pressure gradients develop from curvature variations and viscous resistance to flow. Qualitative comparison is made between the proposed hydrodynamic theory and experimental observations of thinning events and rates. 32 refs., 6 figs.

• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5833894
• Journal Information: Langmuir; (United States), Journal Name: Langmuir; (United States) Vol. 8:12; ISSN LANGD5; ISSN 0743-7463
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201* -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
661000 -- General Physics-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990200 -- Mathematics & Computers
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EMULSIONS
FILMS
FLUID MECHANICS
FOAMS
HYDRODYNAMICS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
MICELLAR SYSTEMS
STABILIZATION
SURFACTANTS
THIN FILMS