title: A ternary model for double-emulsion formation in a capillary microfluidic device.
abstract: To predict double-emulsion formation in a capillary microfluidic device, a ternary diffuse-interface model is presented. The formation of double emulsions involves complex interfacial phenomena of a three-phase fluid system, where each component can have different physical properties. We use the Navier-Stokes/Cahn-Hilliard model for a general ternary system, where the hydrodynamics is coupled with the thermodynamics of the phase field variables. Our model predicts important features of the double-emulsion formation which was observed experimentally by Utada et al. [Utada et al., Science, 2005, 308, 537]. In particular, our model predicts both the dripping and jetting regimes as well as the transition between those two regimes by changing the flow rate conditions. We also demonstrate that a double emulsion having multiple inner drops can be formed when the outer interface is more stable than the inner interface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jang Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Patrick D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Anderson