The Marangoni effect and liquid/liquid coalescence

Abstract

THE rate of coalescence of liquid drops (phase 1) suspended in an immiscible liquid (phase 2) has been shown to increase when a third component, soluble in both phases, diffuses out of the drop1-5, and vice versa. This behaviour has been attributed to the Marangoni effect6, whereby interfacial flow is established by gradients in interfacial tension causing an increase in one case, and a decrease in the other, of the rate of thinning of the phase-2 film separating the coalescing interfaces. © 1961 Nature Publishing Group.