Figure 4
From: Confinement suppresses instabilities in particle-laden droplets
Decrease in buckling tendency. Droplet morphology showing droplet final structures (top view) for (a) unconfined case (b–f) confined cases with L c  = (b) 5 mm (c) 7 mm (d) 10 mm (e) 15 mm (f) 20 mm. Images shown in second row correspond to same confinements with φ o  = 15 wt.% whereas first row φ o  = 40 wt.%. (a) Buckling and subsequent rupturing is observed in top sector of the droplet irrespective of concentration. (b–e) For φ o  = 40 wt.% buckling locations are shifted to the wall sides. (b,c) Buckling is followed by rupturing, (d–e) only buckling is observed (f) buckling is completely suppressed with a dome shaped structure. For confined cases with 15wt.%, buckling locations shift back to the top sector. Inset (i) and (ii)-SEM micrographs of the final precipitates for channel length L c  = 5 mm and 20 mm respectively. τl and τw correspond to the aggregate thickness on the exposed portion and wall side respectively. (iii) SEM micrograph showing the final particle arrangement. Yellow boxes denote the buckling locations and large red horizontal lines represent the channel walls. Scale bar equals 200 µm. Scale bar in the inset (i) and (ii) equals 100 µm while in (iii) equals 60 nm.
