ODES-lab Research: Fizzics & Colloids
fizzics: the science of bubbles, drops, soap films, jets, sprays, foams, and emulsions
intermolecular and surface forces | emulsion stability & rheology | foam drainage & antifoaming |
INTERMOLECULAR & SURFACE FORCES AND FOAM FIZZICS
Foam films, Stratification, Supramolecular Oscillatory Structural Forces, Colloidal and Interfacial Science
Lifetime, drainage and stability of stratifying micellar freestanding films, including the analysis of thin film equation by including the contribution of disjoining pressure contributed by intermolecular and surface forces.
Hydrodynamics and thermodynamics of thin films of soft matter: interfacial and nonlinear flows.
Discovery and analysis of thickness-dependent phase transitions including nanoridge-to-mesa transition and spinodal stratification, scuplted by supramolecular oscillatory structure force contribution to disjoining pressure.
IDIOM (INTEROMETRY DIGITAL IMAGING OPTICAL MICROSCOPY)
Visualization and analysis of anoscopic thickness variations and transitions in freestanding films
Measurement of thickness down to 1 nm in freestanding films, made possible by coverting the pixel-wise intensity obtained using digital imaging into thickness using interferometry equations.
Shape and shape evolution of nanoscopic ridges, mesas, hills and valleys: interplay of capillary and disjoining pressure.
Analogies and contrast to nanoscopic morphological features that appear as a result of dewetting of supported polymer films. Role of supramolecular structural force, line tension, and concentration-dependent changes in interfacial and bulk properties.
INTERFACIAL ADSORPTION & SURFACTANT SCIENCE
Adsorption Kinetics, Dynamic Surface Tension, Tensiometry
Measurement of dynamic surface tension and adsorption kinetics using Maximum Bubble Pressure Tensiometry or Pendant Drop Tensiometry.
Foamability, Defoaming, Firefighting Foam, Reactor Foam, Lather, Froth, Suds.
SURFACTANT SCIENCE, SELF-ASSEMBLY & COMPLEXATION
Micellization and Micelle Shape and Size, Polymer-Surfactant Complexes.
Influence of surfactant type and concentration on the shape and size of association complexes formed.
Bile Salts. Sodium Naphthenate. Soaps and Detergents.
Refereed Publications: Foams & Emulsions
Emulsions (including foamed emulsions)
65. “Continuous production of dilute to dense food grade emulsions via vapor condensation on films”, G. Prasanth Kumar; N. N. Nikolova; V. Sharma, and S.Anand, J. Colloid Interface Sci, 712, 140067 (2026).
64. “Rheological matchup of real and plant-bayed mayo: gel strength, strain overshoot, and yielding, plus the extended Cox-Merz rule”, N.N. Nikolova, S. K. Baier, and V. Sharma, Soft Matter (2026).
62. “Rheology of animal and plant milks featuring dripping-onto-substrate rheometry”, L. Hassan, K. Al Zahabi, N.N. Nikolova, M. Boehm, S. Baier, and V. Sharma, Phys. Fluids, 37, 043112 (2025). RealVeganMilkRheology_PDF
60. “Modeling drop deformations and rheology of dilute to dense emulsions”, R. B. Reboucas, N N. Nikolova and V. Sharma, Curr. Op. Colloid Interface Sci., 77, 101904, (2025). RheologyEmulsions_PDF
59. “The bubbly life and death of animal and plant milk foams”, L. Hassan, M. Reynoso, C. Xu, K. Al Zahabi, R. Maldonado, R. A Nicholson, M. W Boehm, S. K Baier, and V. Sharma, Soft Matter, (2024)
52. “Rheology and dispensing of real and vegan mayo: the chickpea or egg problem,” N. N. Nikolova, C. D. V. Martinez, Narvaez, L. Hassan, R. A. Nicholson, M. W. Boehm, S. K. Baier, and V. Sharma, Soft Matter, 19, 9413-9427, 2023. Read & watch SI video here
Foams & Foam Films