Phase selection in capillary break-up in AC electric fields

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Abstract

We study the detachment of conductive aqueous drops in ambient oil from an electrode in the presence of ac electric fields. Making use of the electrowetting effect, we determine the charge of the detached sessile drops. Drops are found to be discharged at high ac frequency in line with earlier predictions. At low frequencies, we find a wide but unexpected charge distribution displaying a frequency-dependent nonzero minimum charge. This observation is explained in terms of the stabilization of capillary bridges in electric fields, which prevents the hydrodynamic pinch-off for certain phases of the ac field
Original languageUndefined
Pages (from-to)11847-
JournalLangmuir
Volume24
Issue number20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

Keywords

  • METIS-249869
  • IR-73460

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