https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050920
Lattice-Boltzmann study of spontaneous emulsification
Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung, Am Mühlenberg,
Haus 2, 14476 Golm, Germany
Corresponding author: a gompper@mpikg-golm.mpg.de
Received:
5
January
1999
Published online: 15 September 1999
We study the dynamics of spontaneous emulsification of an initially planar oil-water
interface when surfactants are added. The thermodynamic properties of the ternary
oil-water-surfactant system are modeled by a Ginzburg-Landau-type free energy. The
lattice Boltzmann method is used to solve the dynamic equations. The dynamics is found
to be governed by a complicated interplay of convection and diffusion as the two
relevant transport mechanisms. As long as the interface is almost flat, we find the
interfacial area to grow first exponentially and then linearly in time. Later
finger-like structures form which grow with a constant velocity. The tip velocity is
found to increase roughly linearly with the mobility of the amphiphile, and to decrease
as 
with the solvent viscosity ν.
PACS: 82.70.Kj – Emulsions and suspensions / 47.20.Dr – Surface-tension-driven instability / 83.10.Lk – Multiphase flows
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 1999
