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Fast particle dispersion on air-water interface

ORAL

Abstract

Many powders rapidly spread radially outwards when introduced at an air-water interface. For instance, submillimeter-sized hollow glass spheres we use in experiments, exhibit an initial spreading speed of nearly 1 m/s and the spreading radius follows a self-similar behavior in time.

One hypothesis is, the particles are spread radially outwards by capillary waves generated at the instant when the particles impact the water surface. However, this spreading is significantly suppressed with hydrophobic and clean (of impurities) hydrophilic particles, an empirical fact inexplicable by the capillary wave hypothesis. Our findings suggest a surfactant-driven mechanism contributes to this explosive particle dispersion on air-water interface.

Presenters

  • Kha-I To

    Nonlinear and Non-equilibrium Physics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology

Authors

  • Kha-I To

    Nonlinear and Non-equilibrium Physics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology

  • Rohit K Vishwakarma

    Nonlinear and Non-equilibrium Physics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology

  • Shreyas D Mandre

    Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge

  • Mahesh M Bandi

    Nonlinear and Non-equilibrium Physics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology