Gelation effects on the spreading of non-Newtonian drops impacting a reactive liquid

Abstract

We report in this experimental and numerical study effects of gelation on the early-time spreading (<10 ms) of millimetric non-Newtonian drops of biopolymer and particle suspensions impacting a Newtonian liquid containing reactive compounds. Our analyses are initially conducted through experiments by considering a variety of biopolymer and gelling compound concentrations, and impact velocities. The experimental results are then compared to three-dimensional numerical simulations based on a variational multiscale approach, which focuses on the impact of simple viscoplastic drops on a liquid bath in the absence of gelation (non-reactive liquid). These comparisons enable the development of theoretical arguments that emphasise relevant gelation effects on the drop's maximum spreading.