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Updated: Jul 9, 2026

High Throughput Single-cell and Multiple-cell Micro-encapsulation
Published on: June 15, 2012
Wettability-driven pore-filling instabilities: Microfluidic and numerical insights
Lifei Yan1, Johannes C Müller2, Tycho L van Noorden3
1Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, Utrecht, 3584 CB, Netherlands; Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, Delft, 2628 CN, Netherlands.
Hypothesis:
Interface dynamics, such as Haines jumps, are crucial in multi-phase flow through porous media. However, the role of intrinsic surface wettability in pore-filling events remains unclear, and the pressure response requires further study. This work evaluates the impact of wettability on interface stability and pressure dynamics.
Experiments And Simulations:
We performed microfluidic experiments and level-set simulations of two-phase flow. Water displaced air or Fluorinert in a PDMS micro-model with controlled wettability (contact angles: 60∘, 95∘, 120∘). Three injection velocities covered capillary- to viscous-dominated flow regimes. High-resolution imaging and synchronized pressure recordings linked interface curvature with capillary pressure changes.
Findings:
At low capillary numbers, wettability strongly affects burst pressure and pinning. Its influence decreases at higher capillary numbers. We observed an apparent wettability shift due to hysteresis and a capillary pressure barrier linked to pore-wall slope variations. Simulations replicated experimental trends, confirming the role of wettability in pore-scale displacement. These findings provide critical insights for improving pore-network models and understanding wettability effects in porous media.
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