In this study, the lead author Dr Teng Dong and collaborators investigated the evaporation of emulsion drops on flat surfaces, in the context of pesticide applications. They reported a fascinating phenomenon observed for the first time: during spreading, the oil film formed by the coalescence of dispersed droplets in the emulsion develops into two distinct layers, creating a ‘blooming flower’ pattern on the surface and accelerating spreading.
The team attributed this unique two-layer structure to variations in disjoining pressure across the film, driven by the assembly of surfactant micelles. These findings contribute valuable insights for diverse applications, from inkjet printing and agrochemical delivery to film coating and spray cooling.
This project is a collaboration with Prof. Alberto Striolo from the University of Oklahoma and Innospec.
Links
- Full Article - Flowerlike Spreading of Micellar Films during Emulsion Drop Evaporation
- Physical Review Letters, Volume 133, Issue 17, 2024
- ThAMeS: The Advanced Multiphase Systems
- Prof Angeli Panagiota UCL Profile
- Dr Teng Dong UCL Profile
Image credit
- Dr Teng Dong
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