Flow fields in soap films: relating surface viscosity and film thickness

TL;DR

This study investigates how soap film thickness influences surface viscosity and flow behavior, revealing a transition from 2D to 3D fluid dynamics as the film becomes thicker.

Contribution

It demonstrates the applicability of the Trapeznikov approximation across a range of film thicknesses and identifies the transition point from 2D to 3D flow behavior.

Findings

Flow fields agree with 2D fluid theory for 0.6 ≤ h/d ≤ 14.3

Surface viscosity matches Trapeznikov predictions

Transition from 2D to 3D behavior occurs at h/d ≈ 7

Abstract

We follow the diffusive motion of colloidal particles in soap films with varying $h/d$, where $h$ is the thickness of the film and $d$ the diameter of the particles. The hydrodynamics of these films are determined by looking at the correlated motion of pairs of particles as a function of separation $R$. The Trapeznikov approximation [A. A. Trapeznikov, \emph{PICSA} (1957)] is used to model soap films as an effective interface in contact with bulk air phases, that behaves as a 2D fluid. The flow fields determined from correlated particle motions show excellent agreement with what is expected for the theory of 2D fluids for all our films where $0.6 \leq h/d \leq 14.3$, with the surface viscosity matching that predicted by Trapeznikov. However, for thicker films with $h/d > 7 \pm 3$, single particle motion is faster than expected. Additionally, while the flow fields still match those expected for 2D fluids, the parameters of these flow fields change markedly for thick films. Our results indicate a transition from 2D to 3D fluid-like behavior occurs at this value of $h/d$.