Interfacial Dripping Faucet: Generating Monodisperse Liquid Lenses

Area of Science:

• Fluid dynamics
• Interfacial science
• Colloid and interface science

Background:

• The dripping faucet is a classic system for studying fluid dynamics and instabilities.
• Understanding interfacial phenomena is crucial for various applications, including emulsion formation and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel liquid-liquid-gas system as a surface analog to a dripping faucet.
• To investigate the dynamics of periodic pinch-off and lens formation at liquid-liquid interfaces.
• To explore the transition to a jetting regime in this interfacial system.

Main Methods:

• Experimental setup involving a viscous liquid sliding down an immiscible meniscus.
• Observation and analysis of the periodic pinch-off of the liquid filament.
• Characterization of the generated monodisperse floating lenses.
• Analogous description to single-phase dripping faucet dynamics.

Main Results:

• Periodic pinch-off of the filament was successfully observed.
• A succession of monodisperse floating lenses was generated.
• The system's behavior was described analogously to single-phase systems, using the spreading coefficient instead of surface tension.
• A transition to a jetting regime was identified.

Conclusions:

• The interfacial dripping faucet provides a new platform for studying interfacial fluid dynamics.
• This system generates uniform droplets, relevant for emulsion technology.
• The findings offer insights into the fundamental physics governing liquid-liquid-gas interfaces and emulsion dynamics.