Direct evidence for breakup of liquid fibrils via Rayleigh instabilities in model polymer blends in step-up experiments.
Droplet breakup in immiscible polymer blends after a sudden substantial increase in shear rate is studied using small-angle light scattering experiments. During the breakup of the fibrils, secondary streaks are visible in the scattering pattern, which indicate the occurrence of Rayleigh instabilities. A high-resolution camera allows quantitative determination of the evolution of the wavelength of the disturbances during the disintegration process. It is shown that this process is time-controlled rather than strain-controlled as suggested by theory.
Van Hemelrijck
Ellen
E
K.U. Leuven, Department of Chemical Engineering, W. de Croylaan 46, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
Van Puyvelde
Peter
P
Moldenaers
Paula
P