2005 Annual Meeting

(171h) Microfluidic Interfacial Tensiometry

Authors

Kathryn L. Beers - Presenter, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Joao P. B. T. Cabral - Presenter, National Institute of Standards and Technology


A microfluidic approach to rapidly measure interfacial tension of immiscible fluids is reported. This method rests upon quantitative real-time analysis of two-phase flow and drop-shape dynamics. Drops of prescribed dimension and spacing are produced, accelerated and deformed under extensional flow. These measurements, and comparison to previously reported standard measurements, demonstrate our ability to rapidly measure a wide range of interfacial tension (e.g., from 2.5 to 60 mN/m).