Coupling Mechanics, Thermodynamics, and Transport in Interfacial Soft Materials
Speaker
Dr. Mariana Rodríguez Hakim
Laboratorio de Sistemas Complejos Departamento de Física Fundamental Facultad de Ciencias UNED
About this event
Most interfaces of natural, biomedical, and technological interest are formed by adsorbed compounds – such as proteins, polymers, lipids, or particles – that laterally interact, forming extensive microstructural networks that mechanically oppose flow and deformation. Aside from a surface tension, these so-called “complex interfaces” also exhibit a mechanical resistance to changes in area and shape, which bestow the interface with its own elastic and viscous properties. These mechanical properties can dictate the behavior of systems with large surface area to volume ratios (e.g., emulsions, foams, biological cells) and thin liquid films (e.g., tear film, lung surfactant film). In this seminar, I will first outline the fundamental principles and challenges in the field of interfacial rheology – namely, the coupling between thermodynamics, mechanics (rheology), and transport. I will then discuss the different experimental techniques available for characterizing complex interfaces and resolving this coupling, including those that are currently under development. Using illustrative examples from our research, I will demonstrate how interfacial rheology experiments are conducted, the types of quantitative data they provide, and how surface rheological properties can be tuned to optimize the function of complex interfacial systems.
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