European Turbulence Conference 2015

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11:15
15 mins

Suppression of turbulent diffusion on the water surface by viscoelastic nano layer
Michael Shats, Nicolas Francois, Hua Xia, Horst Punzmann

Session: Multiphase and non-Newtonian flows 2
Session starts: Thursday 27 August, 10:30
Presentation starts: 11:15
Room: Room D

Michael Shats (Australian National University)
Nicolas Francois (Australian National University)
Hua Xia (Australian National University)
Horst Punzmann (Australian National University)

Abstract:
We study effects of thin (10 nm) layers of adsorbed proteins on the water surface hydrodynamics. We show that extremely small concentrations of protein (less than 1 ppm) form strong viscoelastic layer at the water-air interface. This layer greatly reduces single particle dispersion on the surface perturbed by Faraday waves and turns disordered surface waves into a square stationary oscillating crystal. The viscoelastic film is destroyed by minute addition of surfactant which leads to the recovery of the horizontal mobility of fluid particles and the restoration of the Faraday wave driven turbulence.