Emulsions are colloidal dispersions of two or more immiscible liquids. They are
central in a great number of processes and products where effective methodologies
are required, either for their stabilization or destabilization. Despite their
pervasiveness, much of our knowledge about emulsions is empirical, while the basic
principles need to be deepened. This could lead to more rational formulations and
processes, using less energy or less polluting chemicals.
Microgravity allows to address the intrinsic drop dynamics, which features dynamic
transitions and transients associated to the processes influencing emulsions stability
(e.g., drop aggregation, coalescence, Ostwald ripening). On ground, all this is
normally convoluted with the predominant gravity-induced dynamics of drop
creaming/sedimentation.
This PhD Project focuses on experiments approved by ESA to be conducted on the
International Space Station, using the facility Soft Matter Dynamics (SMD) [1] to
investigate emulsions in microgravity by Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy (DWS) [2-4]
within an international team (SEEDS collaboration), with the possibility of carrying
out part of the thesis abroad, at:
Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA - USA)
Tokyo University of Science (Tokyo, JP)
Aristotle University of Thessaloníki (GR)
Airbus – Friedrichshafen (D).
Docente/i di riferimento e email:
Prof. Luigi Cristofolini luigi.cristofolini@unipr.it
References
[1] P. Born et al., Review of Scientific Instruments, 2021, 92, 124503.
[2] V. Lorusso et al., Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 2021, 288, 102341.
[3] V. Lorusso et al. submitted (2024)
[4] D. Orsi et al. Current Opinion in Colloids and Interface Science, submitted (2024)
