Mixing dynamics during coalescence of droplets of complex fluids

液滴聚结是令人兴奋的新兴技术的关键组成部分，包括反应性喷墨打印，芯片实验室微流体系统和环保喷雾。在许多这样的应用中，需要在凝聚液滴内的流体之间进行有效的混合，特别是在要启动化学反应或生物过程的情况下。然而，聚结液滴之间的混合机制，特别是在微米尺度和不同（复杂）流体之间的混合机制，仍然知之甚少。本项目将开发和应用实验和计算技术来阐明与新兴喷墨打印技术直接相关的聚结液滴之间的混合机制，从而提高对不同流体的聚结液滴之间的内部和混合动力学的基本理解。需要探讨的具体方面包括传热效应、化学反应、流体成分和液滴大小。

Droplet coalescence is a crucial component of exciting emerging technologies including reactive inkjet printing, lab-on-a-chip microfluidic systems and environmentally-friendly sprays. In many such applications, effective mixing between the fluids within the coalescing droplets is required, especially where a chemical reaction or biological process is to be initiated. However, mechanisms of mixing between coalescing droplets, especially those on micrometric scales and of different (complex) fluids, remain relatively poorly understood. This project will develop and apply experimental and computational techniques to elucidate mechanisms of mixing between coalescing droplets directly relevant to emerging inkjet printing technologies, hence improving the fundamental understanding of internal and mixing dynamics between coalescing droplets of different fluids. Particular aspects to be explored include heat transfer effects, chemical reactions, fluid composition and droplet size.