Impact dynamics of particle-coated droplets.

We present findings from an experimental study of the impact of liquid marbles onto solid surfaces. Using dual-view high-speed imaging, we reveal details of the impact dynamics previously not reported. During the spreading stage it is observed that particles at the surface flow rapidly to the periphery of the drop, i.e., the lamella. We characterize the spreading with the maximum spread diameter, comparing to impacts of pure liquid droplets. The principal result is a power-law scaling for the normalized maximum spread in terms of the impact Weber number, D_{max}/D_{0}∼We^{α}, with α≈1/3. However, the best description of the spreading is obtained by considering a total energy balance, in a similar fashion to Pasandideh-Fard et al. [Phys. Fluids 8, 650 (1996)]PHFLE61070-663110.1063/1.868850. By using hydrophilic target surfaces, the marble integrity is lost even for moderate impact speeds as the particles at the surface separate and allow liquid-solid contact to occur. Remarkably, however, we observe no significant difference in the maximum spread between hydrophobic and hydrophilic targets, which is rationalized by the presence of the particles. Finally, for the finest particles used, we observe the formation of nonspherical arrested shapes after retraction and rebound from hydrophobic surfaces, which is quantified by a circularity measurement of the side profiles.

Spreading, encapsulation and transition to arrested shapes during drop impact onto hydrophobic powders.

We present findings from an experimental study of the impact of liquid droplets onto powder surfaces, where the particulates are hydrophobic. We vary both the size of the drop and impact speed coupled with the size range of the powder in order to assess the critical conditions for the formation of liquid marbles, where the drop becomes completely encapsulated by the powder, and arrested shapes where the drop cannot regain its spherical shape. By using different hydrophobization agents we find that a lower particle mobility may aid in promoting liquid marble formation at lower impact kinetic energies. From observations of the arrested shape formations, we propose that simple surface tensions may be inadequate to describe deformation dynamics in liquid marbles.