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The study of deformation characteristics of polymer droplet under electric field

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Abstract

In this paper, the characteristic of polymer droplet deformation under high-voltage alternating current electric field is studied with high-speed photography, and the main factors are also researched which could have an influence on this behavior. The relationship between the concentration of polymer and the deformation of droplet is reported. Afterwards, the droplet deformation is further investigated when surfactant coexists with polymer. Experiment results show that the relationship is significantly changed in this binary system solution caused by an increasing elasticity. The achievements of this article are of great significance to enhance the separation of water in oil emulsions emulsions.

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Abbreviations

a :

Spheroid’s long semi-axis, μm

B :

Elastic resistance term, N · m−1

b :

Spheroid’s short semi-axis, μm

C :

Concentration, mg · L−1

D v :

A steady component of total deformation under AC field

d :

Diameter of a drop, μm

d s :

Thickness of the insulation, 4 mm

E 0 :

Electric field strength, kV · m−1

e :

Deformation degree, e = (1 − b 2/a 2)1/2

f :

Electric frequency, Hz

L :

Distance between two electrodes, 9 mm

m :

Relaxation time, m = εε 0/Γ

r :

Radius of a drop, m

S :

The ratio of permittivity of the drop to that of the continuous phase, S = ε d/ε

T :

Experimental temperature, T = 25 °C

U r :

The root mean square value of voltage, V

Γ :

Conductivity of dispersed phase, ms · cm−1

ε :

Relative dielectric constant of continuous phase

ε 0 :

Permittivity of vacuum, 8.85 × 10−12 F · m−1

ε d :

Relative dielectric constant of dispersed phase

ε s :

Relative dielectric constant of insulation, 4

ε”:

Complex part of the permittivity of drop phase

σ :

Oil/water interfacial tension, N · m−1

ω :

Angular frequency of the applied electric field, ω = 2πf

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Acknowledgments

The work is supported by a grant from Chinese National Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 51274233).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Pipeline and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum, No. 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao, Shandong, 266580, China

    Haipeng Yan, Limin He, Xiaoming Luo & Jing Wang

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  1. Haipeng Yan
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  2. Limin He
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  3. Xiaoming Luo
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  4. Jing Wang
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Correspondence to Limin He.

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Yan, H., He, L., Luo, X. et al. The study of deformation characteristics of polymer droplet under electric field. Colloid Polym Sci 293, 2045–2052 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-015-3597-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-015-3597-5

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