Drops, liquid layers and the Marangoni effect

Abstract

An overview is given of recent results about the onset and development of steady and time-dependent flow motions past an instability threshold induced by the Marangoni effect. First, I consider the case of a liquid drop immersed in another immiscible liquid when (endo- or exothermic) reaction, heat and/or mass transfer at/across the drop surface, etc., leads to self-propelled drop motion, overcoming viscous drag. Then I recall salient features about the spreading of an immiscible or a dissolving drop (with surfactant) on the surface of another liquid. Finally, I consider Bénard layers when either steady convective patterns or waves are produced by appropriate heat or mass transfer across the open surface.