The Study of Thin Aqueous Films as Models for Froths and Flotation

Thin liquid films play a significant role as basic structural elements of many disperse systems (foams, froths, emulsions, etc.) as well as in processes of major industrial impor- tance, such as flotation. The stability of thin liquid films from aqueous surfactant solutions is of primary interest for froth generation as well as the contact formation between air bubbles and mineral particles.The importance of thin aqueous films as models for studying the fundamental behaviour of these mineral processing operations is discussed. The characteristic properties of the aqueous film is described and the experimental techniques developed to measure film thickness, stability and intermolecular interactions are reviewed.