Dynamics of capillary coalescence and breakup: Quasi-two-dimensional nematic and isotropic droplets

We observed the formation of small satellite droplets from the bridge at droplet coalescence. Investigations were made using a Hele-Shaw cell in the two-phase region at the nematic-isotropic phase transition. In previous works on coalescence it was considered that before the start of coalescence there exists a bridge between the outer fluid connecting regions on the two sides of the droplets (outer bridge). After the start of coalescence, a bridge connecting the two droplets appears (droplet bridge) and the outer bridge is broken. We have shown that there are coalescence processes where after the start of coalescence both the droplet bridge and the outer bridge can exist. This cardinally changes the coalescence process. During the first coalescence stage the size of the outer bridge decreases and the size of the droplet bridge increases. During the second stage the outer bridge becomes unstable which leads to pinch-off, formation of pointed end domains, secondary instability, splitting of pointed end domains, and formation of satellite droplets. We found the linear dependence of the minimum bridge radius on time near bridge breakup. This behavior confirms the capillary viscous regime of bridge breakup. Our work connects two areas of fluid dynamics: coalescence and breakup with formation of satellite droplets.

Automated summary

The study revealed that both droplet bridge and outer bridge can exist simultaneously during droplet coalescence, fundamentally changing the coalescence process. This leads to a decrease in outer bridge size, an increase in droplet bridge size, and ultimately the formation of satellite droplets.