Interfacial.
phenomena. in. electro. and. magneto. fluid. mechanics
The interaction of interfacial force with electric or magnetic
force produces interesting phenomena, such as instabilities, breakups,
pattern formation, capillary electrowetting.
In particular, the competition of magnetic force with interfacial
force and gravity sets in at interfaces between fluids of different
magnetic polarizability and causes instabilities that produce strikingly
patterned static interfacial deformations. The investigation aims
at illuminating the mechanisms of pattern selection.
Recent, ongoing research focuses on electrowetting in microfluidics:
The interaction of electric force and capillary force enhances wetting
of dielectric substrates by conducting liquids. However, the enchancement
is limited by contact angle saturation. A possible connection between
dielectric breakdown and saturation is investigated.
In the broader context of the design and fabrication of reversible hydrophobic/hydrophilic surfaces for micro- and nano-fluidics applications was the research project DESIREDROP (2012-2015), a "THALIS" project funded by the Ministry of Education through the National Strategic Reference Framework.
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