Foam slip on surfaces of intermediate or low wettability

Abstract

Wall slip of foams is important in several practical contexts. If the surface is not perfectly wetted by the interstitial liquid, the foam–wall interface may exhibit a yield stress. This paper represents the first quantitative study of this phenomenon. A simple model of the interface between disorganized foam and a solid surface is presented. This model treats the interface as a network of soap film contact lines. Experimental data are presented on the tension at soap film contact lines, and the stress at the foam–solid interface, at very slow translation speeds and for several surfaces. These agree broadly with theoretical predictions up to parity of the interface yield stress with the bulk yield stress of the foam. The experimental data include the yield tension for a soap film contact line pulled in an oblique direction with respect to the contact line normal. These data are also broadly consistent with theoretical predictions.