Smart Particles as Foam and Liquid Marble Stabilizers

Abstract

Small particles adsorbed to gas-liquid interfaces are widely observed and utilized in many products and various industrial sections, such as flotation, washing, food, water treatment, treatment of radioactive wastes, and distillation in the petroleum industry. After a dormant period of nearly half a century, there is a revival of interests in studying their behaviour. Colloidal particles with a suitable wettability can strongly adsorb to gas-liquid interfaces, and can work as effective stabilizers for foams and liquid marbles (dry liquids). This article presents an overview of current research activities that center on foams and liquid marbles stabilized with well-defined colloidal particles. It is organized into three parts: i) brief discussions of small particles adsorbed to gas-liquid interfaces and their characterizations; ii) demonstrations of aqueous foams stabilized with inorganic or organic particles; and iii) demonstrations of liquid marbles (dry liquids) stabilized with colloidal particles.

Keywords

• foams
• bubbles
• liquid marbles
• dry liquids
• colloidal particles
• adsorption
• gas-liquid interfaces
• wettability