When two droplets of simple liquids are gently brought into contact, they merge into a single larger drop to minimize surface energy, a mechanism referred to as coalescence. The situation is markedly different when looking at droplets of complex fluids, where finite-size effects, non-local rheology and complex rheology are present. By combining ultra-fast imaging technics, rheology and image processing, we aim to reveal the mechanisms at play in the coalescence dynamics of complex fluid drops.
Contact: Manon l’Estimé (m.m.r.lestime@uva.nl)