Plateau border bulimia transition: discontinuities expected in three simple experiments on 2D liquid foams

TL;DR

This paper predicts an abrupt transition in the geometry of 2D liquid foams between dry and wet regimes, with significant changes in Plateau border radius observable through various experimental manipulations.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework predicting discontinuous transitions in foam geometry during wetting, drying, or mechanical deformation in 2D foam systems.

Findings

Abrupt transition between dry and wet foam regimes.

Significant change in Plateau border radius during transition.

Observable effects in experiments involving drying, wetting, or deformation.

Abstract

We describe the geometry of foams squeezed between two solid plates (2D GG foams) in two main asymptotic regimes: fully dry floor tiles and dry pancakes. We predict an abrupt transition between both regimes, with a substantial change in the Plateau border radius. This should be observable in different types of experiments on such 2D GG foams: when foam is being progressively dried or wetted, when it is being squeezed further or stretched, when it coarsens through film breakage or Oswald ripening.