Dynamics of retracting surfactant-laden ligaments at intermediate Ohnesorge number

Abstract

Three-dimensional direct numerical simulations of the ligaments retraction process over a range of system parameters that account for surfactant solubility, sorption kinetics, and Marangoni stresses are presented. The presence of surfactant inhibits the ``end-pinching'' mechanism and promotes neck reopening through Marangoni flow induced by the formation of surfactant concentration gradients that drive flow reversal toward the neck.