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Surfactants in Foam Stability: A Phase-Field Model

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Abstract

The role of surfactants in stabilizing the formation of bubbles in foams is studied using a phase-field model. The analysis is centered on a van der Walls–Cahn– Hilliard-type energy with an added term which accounts for the interplay between the presence of a surfactant density and the creation of interfaces. In particular, it is concluded that the surfactant segregates to the interfaces, and that the prescription of the distribution of surfactant will dictate the locus of interfaces, which is in agreement with the experimental results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematical Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Irene Fonseca

  2. Classe di Matematica, SISSA, Via Beirut 2-4, 34014, Miramare Grignano (Trieste), Italy

    Massimiliano Morini

  3. Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK

    Valeriy Slastikov

Authors
  1. Irene Fonseca
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  2. Massimiliano Morini
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  3. Valeriy Slastikov
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Correspondence to Irene Fonseca.

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Communicated by L. Ambrosio

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Fonseca, I., Morini, M. & Slastikov, V. Surfactants in Foam Stability: A Phase-Field Model. Arch Rational Mech Anal 183, 411–456 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00205-006-0012-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00205-006-0012-x

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