Control and modulation of droplet vaporization rates via competing ferro- and electro-hydrodynamics

TL;DR

This paper investigates how electric and magnetic fields influence droplet vaporization rates in microfluidics, revealing electric fields slow vaporization while magnetic fields aid it, with a comprehensive model explaining the internal fluid dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental and theoretical framework for controlling droplet vaporization via competing ferro- and electro-hydrodynamics, highlighting the dominant electric field influence.

Findings

Electric field decelerates vaporization rates.

Magnetic field enhances vaporization.

The model accurately predicts internal advection velocities.

Abstract

Modification and control over the vaporization kinetics of microfluidic droplets may have strong utilitarian implications in several scientific and technological applications. The article reports the control over the vaporization kinetics of pendent droplets under the influence of competing internal electrohydrodynamic and ferrohydrodynamic advection. Experimental and theoretical studies are performed and the morphing of vaporization kinetics of electrically conducting and paramagnetic fluid droplets using orthogonal electric and magnetic stimuli is established. Analysis of the observations reveals that the electric field has a domineering influence compared to the magnetic field. While the magnetic field is noted to aid the vaporization rates, the electric field is observed to decelerate the same. Neither the vapour diffusion dominated kinetics nor the field induced modified surface tension can explain the observed vaporization behaviours. Velocimetry within the droplet shows largely modified internal ferro and electrohydrodynamic advection, which is noted to be the crux of the mechanism towards modified vaporization rates. A mathematical treatment is proposed and takes into account the roles played by the governing Hartmann, electrohydrodynamic, interaction, the thermal and solutal Marangoni, and the electro and magneto Prandtl and Schmidt numbers. It is observed that the morphing of the thermal and solutal Marangoni numbers by the electromagnetic interaction number plays the dominant role towards morphing the advection dynamics. The model is able to predict the internal advection velocities accurately. The findings may hold significant promise towards smart control and tuning of vaporization kinetics in microhydrodynamics transport paradigms.