Electrocapillary driven Flow at the Polar, Non-polar Interface

Abstract

Marangoni flow is occurred in the vicinity of the interface. It takes place due to the interfacial tension gradient. This is usually caused by two factors, temperature, and concentration gradient. Not only these two factors, but also one factor that makes interfacial tension gradient exists. That factor is the electrocapillarity.Electrocapillarity is the change in interfacial tension due to an electric potential gradient in the presence of a surface charge. Principle of this phenomenon is similar to thermal-marangoni and solutal-marangoni flows. This electrocapillarity is easily applied to the certain system because electric potential can be intentionally made. Because of this advantage, electrocapillarity can be utilized to control the flow at the interface.In order to verify this electrocapillary flow, experiments of aqueous solution/MIBK and Ga-In/Aqueous system were conducted in room temperature. After results had been obtained, two types of modeling were conducted

they are electrochemical modeling and fluid flow modeling. Also comparison between experiment and modeling was carried out and surface velocity was predicted in Steel/Slag system.In the steel-making process, there a lot of problems which are related to the liquid flow. These flows are generated by inflow of fluid or marangoni flow. Modeling result of surface velocity in Steel/Slag system shows possibility of controlling the flow that causes bad effect in Steel-making process. Based on the result, some applications are suggested.