Oscillating bubble instrument

Figure 12.15. Schematic of an oscillating drop or bubble instrument...

In a recent paper Miller et al. (1994d) discussed parallel experiments with a maximum bubble pressure apparatus and a drop volume method (MPTl and TVTl from LAUDA, respectively), and oscillating jet and inclined plate instruments, performed with the same surfactant solutions. As shown in Fig. 5.27, these methods have different time windows. While the drop volume and bubble pressure methods show only a small overlap, the time windows of the inclined plate and oscillating jet methods are localised completely within that of the bubble pressure instrument. 

The design of a bubble pressure tensiometer changes from instrument to instrument, according to the specific measurement procedures. As an example, Fig. 14 illustrates the schematic diagram of the tensiometer BPA (SINTERFACE) equipped with a gas flow oscillation analyser to measure the bubble surface lifetime. 

The instrument shown schematically in Fig. 26 is suitable for slow oscillation experiments, as it was performed for the first time by Miller et al. in 1993. The frequency limit of the oscillations is given by the condition for the liquid meniscus shape, which has to be Laplacian. Under too fast deformations this condition is not fulfilled and hence the method does not provide reliable results. To reach higher frequencies of oscillation, the above mentioned oscillating drop or bubble experiments are suitable, because the shape of the menisci is spherical due to the small diameter. The instrument of Fig. 26 can be designed such that a pressure sensor and piezo translator are built in and the video system serves as optical control and determines the drop/bubble diameter accurately. 

A technique has been developed for the continuous measurement of emulsion surface tension based on the pressure necessary to form a bubble in liquid. Details of the method may be found in Schork and Ray [24]. With a laboratory prototype of the bubble tensiometer, it has been possible to measure surface tensions continuously to within 1 to 2% [24]. A commercial instrument based on these principles is now available. Figures 5.5 and 5.7 demonstrate the use of the bubble tensiometer to monitor the surface tension of methyl methacrylate emulsion during continuous and batch polymerization. It will be noted that during conversion oscillation the surface tension oscillated as well, in accordance with the discrete initiation mechanism often postulated to explain this phenomenon. 

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