The blistering of a viscoelastic filament of a droplet of saliva

TL;DR

This paper presents a fluid dynamics video demonstrating the breakup of a saliva droplet, highlighting the formation of a viscoelastic filament, blistering phenomena, and phase separation resulting in nanometer-sized biopolymer fibers.

Contribution

It provides visual evidence and analysis of the breakup process of saliva droplets, emphasizing the role of viscoelasticity and phase separation in biopolymer fiber formation.

Findings

Viscoelastic filament formation during saliva droplet breakup

Blistering behavior observed in the filament

Nanometer-sized biopolymer fibers resulting from phase separation

Abstract

A fluid dynamics video of the break up of a droplet of saliva is shown. First a viscoelastic filament is formed and than the blistering of this filament is shown. Finally, a flow induced phase separation takes place nanometer sized solid fiber remains that consist out of the biopolymers.