Evolution of microfluidic droplets in ternary systems

The microflow behavior of liquid-liquid dispersions is experimentally investigated in the presence of miscible solvents. Original microfluidic methods are developed to characterize out-of-equilibrium fluid interactions resulting from the interplay of interfacial tension and diffusion phenomena. In particular, we examine the dynamic response of viscous droplets to a sharp decrease of interfacial tension resulting from the sequential injections of miscible solvents. Various flow configurations and fluid combinations are examined to clarify the role of liquid solubility on the fundamentals of multiphase flows and advance predictive knowledge of spontaneous emulsification phenomena in microgeometries.