Electrohydrodynamic Instabilities in Free Emulsion Films

Electrohydrodynamic instabilities were induced in thin water-in-oil emulsion films by application of external DC electric field. The dominant wavelengths of instabilities were measured for constant electric fields of various strengths. The dominant wavelengths agreed reasonably well with theoretical predictions based on a linear stability model. The linear stability model used in this study took into account experimentally measured repulsive disjoining pressure and calculated Maxwell stress. The observation of such instabilities can help to understand the rupture mechanism of emulsion films under the influence of electric field.

Automated summary

Electrohydrodynamic instabilities in thin water-in-oil emulsion films were induced by an external DC electric field, with the dominant wavelengths measured for different strengths of electric fields aligning reasonably well with theoretical predictions based on a linear stability model. This model considered the experimentally measured repulsive disjoining pressure and calculated Maxwell stress, providing insights into the rupture mechanism of emulsion films under the influence of an electric field.