Collision between immiscible drops with large surface tension difference: diesel oil and water

Abstract

The collision outcomes of immiscible drops with large surface tension difference, namely, a water drop and a diesel oil drop, were observed experimentally. In a near head-on collision between immiscible drops with large surface tension difference, an “overlaying” action for the drop of the smaller surface tension, i.e., the diesel oil drop, to go around the surface of the drop of the larger surface tension, i.e., the water drop, occurs during the collision. This overlaying action reduces the reflex energy for head-on collisions, making reflex separation more difficult to occur. At the same time, due to the immiscibility, the liquid bridge during stretching separation becomes narrower, which makes stretching separation easier to happen. No coalescence could be observed for a collision of Weber number greater than 60. In addition, compound drops are produced frequently.