Materials 2017, 10(4), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma10040436
Mechanics of Pickering Drops Probed by Electric Field–Induced Stress
1
Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
2
Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
3
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
4
Institut Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, 6-12 rue Jean Calvin, Paris 75005, France
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 5 February 2017 / Revised: 26 March 2017 / Accepted: 13 April 2017 / Published: 21 April 2017
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designed Colloidal Self-Assembly)
Abstract
Fluid drops coated with particles, so-called Pickering drops, play an important role in emulsion and capsule applications. In this context, knowledge of mechanical properties and stability of Pickering drops are essential. Here we prepare Pickering drops via electric field-driven self-assembly. We use direct current (DC) electric fields to induce mechanical stress on these drops, as a possible alternative to the use of, for example, fluid flow fields. Drop deformation is monitored as a function of the applied electric field strength. The deformation of pure silicone oil drops is enhanced when covered by insulating polyethylene (PE) particles, whereas drops covered by conductive clay particles can also change shape from oblate to prolate. We attribute these results to changes in the electric conductivity of the drop interface after adding particles, and have developed a fluid shell description to estimate the conductivity of Pickering particle layers that are assumed to be non-jammed and fluid-like. Retraction experiments in the absence of electric fields are also performed. Particle-covered drops retract slower than particle-free drops, caused by increased viscous dissipation due to the presence of the Pickering particle layer. View Full-TextKeywords:
Pickering drops; electric fields; drop deformation; drop retraction
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Mikkelsen, A.; Dommersnes, P.; Rozynek, Z.; Gholamipour-Shirazi, A.; Carvalho, M.S.; Fossum, J.O. Mechanics of Pickering Drops Probed by Electric Field–Induced Stress. Materials 2017, 10, 436.
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