Abstract
It is shown experimentally that surfactants can change the thinning rate of fluid necks undergoing rupture. In the case of two-fluid pinch-off, two or three linear regimes are observed for the variation of the neck radius versus time. The surface tension in the neck region changes with time, as a result of surfactant depletion. Similar results are obtained for the case of a single fluid pinching in air. The depletion of surfactant can be either partial or complete depending on the rate of transport of the surfactant from the bulk to the surface.
- Received 15 April 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.264501
©2009 American Physical Society