Issue 1, 2017

Off-equilibrium surface tension in miscible fluids

Abstract

The interfacial tension between immiscible fluids is responsible for a wealth of every-day phenomena, from the spherical shape of small drops and bubbles to the ability to walk on water of many insects. More than a century ago, physicist and mathematician D. Korteweg postulated the existence of an effective interface tension for miscible fluids, whenever a composition gradient exists, as encountered, e.g., in many flow geometries. In this mini-review, we discuss experimental work performed in the last decades that demonstrates the existence of a positive effective interface tension in a variety of systems, from molecular, near-critical liquids to complex fluids such as polymer solutions and colloidal suspensions. The various experimental strategies that have been deployed are discussed, together with their advantages and limitations. Finally, some of the key theoretical questions still open are outlined.

Graphical abstract: Off-equilibrium surface tension in miscible fluids

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
03 Maijs 2016
Accepted
30 Maijs 2016
First published
31 Maijs 2016

Soft Matter, 2017,13, 13-21

Off-equilibrium surface tension in miscible fluids

D. Truzzolillo and L. Cipelletti, Soft Matter, 2017, 13, 13 DOI: 10.1039/C6SM01026A

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