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.
| Translated title of the contribution | Surfactants in foam stability: A phase-field model |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Pages (from-to) | 411 - 456 |
| Number of pages | 46 |
| Journal | Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis |
| Volume | 183 (3) |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2007 |