Interfacial criteria for stabilization of liquid foams by solid particles

The stability criteria of liquid foams, stabilized by solid particles have been derived, based on the interfacial separating pressure, acting between two neighboring bubbles (foam cells). Different structures of solid particles in the cell walls have been considered, all being able to stabilize liquid foams with an increasing probability, according to the following row: structure LP1 (loosely packed single layer of particles) --> structure CP1 (closely packed single layer of particles) --> structure LP2C (loosely packed double layer of clustered particles) --> structure LP2+C (loosely packed 'double+' layer of clustered particles) --> structure CP2 (closely packed double layer of particles) --> structure CP2+ (closely packed 'double+' layer of particles). It has been shown that the contact angle should be higher than a certain value Theta(0), in order to ensure stability of bubble-particles agglomerates. On the other hand, different structures of particles can stabilize the foam, if the contact angle is below the certain value (90degrees for the CP1 and LP1 structures, 129degrees for the CP2, LP2C and LP2+C structures and 180degrees for the CP2+ structure). The optimum value of the contact angle, being able to stabilize the foam is a difficult function of different parameters, but has been found in the interval between 50 and 90degrees. It has been shown that the possibility to stabilize liquid foams is connected with the value of the dimensionless quantity PRs/sigma (P: the pressure, destabilizing the foam; R-s: the radius of the stabilizing particles; sigma: the surface tension of the liquid). When PRs/sigma > 40, foam stabilization is absolutely impossible. When PRs/sigma < 40, foam stabilization becomes possible, but it has high probability only at PRs/sigma < 4. From this condition the maximum size of the particles. being able to stabilize liquid foams can be found. Trial calculations showed that particles smaller than 3 and 30 mum in diameter are requested for stabilizing water based, and liquid aluminum based foams, respectively. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.