Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/219139

Title

Anomalous pull-off forces between surfactant-free emulsion drops in different aqueous electrolytes

Author(s)

Lockie, Hannah;  Manica, Rogerio;  Tabor, Rico F.;  Stevens, Geoffrey W.;  Grieser, Franz;  Chan, Derek Y. C.;  Dagastine, Raymond R.

Abstract

A systematic study of collisions between surfactant-free organic drops in aqueous electrolyte solutions reveals the threshold at which continuum models provide a complete description of thin-film interactions. For collision velocities above 1 μm/s, continuum models of hydrodynamics and surface forces provide a complete description of the interaction, despite the absence of surfactant. This includes accurate prediction of coalescence at high salt concentration (500 mM). In electrolyte solutions at intermediate salt concentration (50 mM), drop–drop collisions at lower velocity (<1 μm) or extended time of forced drop–drop interaction exhibit a strong pull-off force of systematically varying magnitude. The observations have implications on the effects of ion-specificity and time-dependence in drop–drop interactions where kinetic stability is marginal.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences

Source

Langmuir, Vol. 28, no. 9 (Mar 2012), pp. 4259-4266

Publication year

2012

Keyword(s)

Drop-drop collisions;  Electrolytes;  Pull-off force;  Surfactant-free emulsion drops

Publisher

American Chemical Society

ISSN

0743-7463

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la204753y

Copyright

Copyright © 2012 American Chemical Society.

Additional information

The authors acknowledge support from the ARC.

Peer reviewed