Simultaneous visualization of the flow inside and around droplets generated in microchannels

Open access
Date
2014-04Type
- Journal Article
Citations
Cited 8 times in
Web of Science
Cited null times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
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Abstract
This paper reports the visualization of droplet formation in co-flowing microfluidic devices using food-grade aqueous biopolymer–surfactant solutions as the dispersed droplet phase and sunflower oil as the continuous phase. Microparticle image velocimetry and streak imaging techniques are utilized to simultaneously recover the velocity profiles both within and around the dispersed phase during droplet formation and detachment. Different breakup mechanisms are found for Newtonian–Newtonian and non-Newtonian–Newtonian model water-in-oil emulsions, emphasizing the influence of process and material parameters such as the flow rates of both phases, interfacial tension, and the elastic properties of the non-Newtonian droplet phase on the droplet formation detachment dynamics. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000071685Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Microfluidics and NanofluidicsVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
SpringerSubject
Microparticle image velocimetry; Co-flow geometry; Droplet generation; Viscoelasticity; Fluid elasticity; Internal flowOrganisational unit
08821 - Fischer, Peter (Tit.-Prof.)
03345 - Windhab, Erich Josef (emeritus) / Windhab, Erich Josef (emeritus)
Notes
It was possible to publish this article open access thanks to a Swiss National Licence with the publisher.More
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Citations
Cited 8 times in
Web of Science
Cited null times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics