Investigation of drop coalescence via transient shape evolution: A sequential event based approach

TL;DR

This study investigates the mechanisms of drop coalescence, distinguishing complete and partial outcomes, using high-speed imaging to analyze transient shape evolution and proposing new insights into the instability factors involved.

Contribution

It introduces a sequential event based approach to analyze drop coalescence phenomena and highlights the role of slippage and Laplace pressure in secondary droplet formation.

Findings

Complete coalescence occurs with pure water drops.

Partial coalescence depends on surfactant concentration.

Shape evolution reveals mechanisms behind droplet breakup.

Abstract

While a drop of liquid is placed on another liquid surface, two possible coalescence outcomes are observed. The parent drop bounces several times, floats and then disappears within the liquid pool without producing daughter droplets. This is called complete coalescence. Another outcome is the generation of secondary droplets from the primary drop itself. This is called partial coalescence. Repetitions of such phenomenon as a successive self-similar event is also known as coalescence cascade. In a nutshell, complete coalescence is governed strongly by swallowing mechanism whereas partial coalescence is attributed to slippage mechanism and solutal Marangoni flow. Here we use high speed camera and witness that water drop coalesces completely after impacting on pool of liquid whereas drop of non-ionic surfactant (TWEEN 20) coalesces partially. We also observe that number of daughter droplet generation is a strong function of surfactant concentration. Here we utilise the images to elaborately explain both the phenomenon in a sequential event based approach using the basic understanding of physics. We observe the transient evolution of drop morphology during each stage and find shape wise resemblances with many common objects. Our study reveals some interesting insight on the intermediate mechanisms and enlightens distinctive features of both the phenomena. Here we propose for the first time that additional instability due to slippage of rising water layer from the surfactant drop and upward thrust due to Laplace pressure helps in formation of secondary droplet. Keywords: Partial coalescence, complete coalescence, high speed camera, drop morphology, slippage, Laplace pressure.