Rigid sphere transport through a colloidal gas-liquid interface

In this paper we report on the gravity-driven transport of rigid spheres of various sizes through the fluid-fluid interface of a demixed colloid-polymer mixture. Three consecutive stages can be distinguished: (i) the sphere approaches the interface by sedimenting through the polymer-rich phase, (ii) it is subsequently transported to the colloid-rich phase and (iii) it moves away from the interface. The spheres are covered by a thin wetting film of the colloid-rich phase, to which they are eventually transported. The ultralow interfacial tension in these phase-separating mixtures results in very small capillary forces so that the process takes place in the low Reynolds regime. Moreover, it enables the investigation of the role of capillary waves in the process. Depending on the Bond number, the ratio between gravitational force and capillary force acting on the sphere, different transport configurations are observed. At low Bond numbers, the drainage transport configuration, with a dominant capillary force, is encountered. At high Bond numbers, spheres are transported through the tailing configuration, with a dominant gravitational force. By varying the sphere diameter, we observe both transport configurations as well as a crossover regime in a single experimental system.