Foams & Emulsions : interfaces and transport

Soft matter refers to systems ranging from complex fluids to disordered solids. While most thermodynamic equilibrium situations for these systems are well known, they are generally described by average quantities. However, in non-equilibrium situations, the dynamic response of these systems results from couplings between mass transfers and flows or deformations that give rise to several characteristic lengths: their description therefore requires simultaneous consideration of interactions at small scales and hydrodynamics or mechanics at mesoscopic scales. Thus, a physical approach, which allows generic mechanisms to be identified, combined with physicochemistry to take into account interactions at the molecular scale, appears necessary to quantitatively describe the macroscopic dynamic behavior of soft matter. Among the soft matter systems in which transfers are important, systems rich in liquid interfaces are particularly interesting: transport can be controlled by adsorption dynamics at the interface, diffusion, advection, viscous or frictional dissipation, or transfers along the interface.

Transport issues in these systems are also of interest for many industrial problems, particularly in processes.
In this theme, we study the behavior of foams and emulsions. To study the dynamic response of these systems, we control the physicochemistry and develop a physical approach to describe the couplings between interfacial and volumetric stresses, taking into account both flows and/or deformations and mass transfers at interfaces and in volume.

– How can we stop foaming in foams?
– How can we make seawater foam?
– How can we control the structure of solid foams?
– Chemical reactions in foams
– Foaming of solvent mixtures
– Detergency under flow
– Stability of composite foams: fibers, particles, etc.