Journal article
A Microtensiometer To Probe the Effect of Radius of Curvature on Surfactant Transport to a Spherical Interface
Langmuir, v 26(16), pp 13310-13319
17 Aug 2010
PMID: 20695573
Abstract
Diffusion of surfactant to a spherical interface depends on the radius of curvature of the interface; the smaller the radius of curvature is, the faster the dynamics. This paper presents and validates an experimental apparatus, denoted a "microtensiometer", to study the dependence of surfactant dynamics on radius of curvature. Dynamic surface tension is monitored for a range of bubble radii from 17 to 150 mu m, and the dynamics are compared with those obtained using the classic pendant drop experiment for a nonionic surfactant at the air water interface. Experiments reveal that dynamic surface tension follows a diffusion-limited scaling, in which radius of curvature is a key parameter. Despite the clear scaling behavior of the experimental equilibration time, the full dynamic curve for an initially clean interface cannot be predicted by a diffusion-limited transport model using the molecular diffusion coefficient and a single isotherm. However, the same model is shown to correctly predict compression expansion experiments. Aside from elucidation of surfactant transport, this device provides a tool for rapid measurements of interfacial properties using a significantly lower volume of sample than current methods.
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Details
- Title
- A Microtensiometer To Probe the Effect of Radius of Curvature on Surfactant Transport to a Spherical Interface
- Creators
- Nicolas J. Alvarez - Carnegie Mellon UniversityLynn M. Walker - Carnegie Mellon Univ, Dept Chem Engn, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USAShelley L. Anna - Carnegie Mellon Univ, Dept Chem Engn, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
- Publication Details
- Langmuir, v 26(16), pp 13310-13319
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society; Washington, DC
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- CBET-0730727 / National Science Foundation, NSF; National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000280667900040
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-77955526697
- Other Identifier
- 991019292133104721
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
- Chemistry, Physical
- Materials Science, Multidisciplinary