Nonlinear Rupture Theory of a Thin Free Liquid Film with Insoluble Surfactant

Abstract

Effects of insoluble surfactant on the dynamic rupture of a thin free filmare investigated. The integral method is applied to derive the strong nonlinearevolution equations. Then the numerical method is used to analyze the nonlinearrupture process. The results show that the Marangoni effect due to theconcentration gradient of insoluble surfactant delays the rupture process.Furthermore, the rupture time predicted by the evolution equations derived bythe integral theory is always longer than that predicted by the evolutionequations derived by the long-wave expansion method. Besides, it is shown thatthe stronger the Marangoni effect becomes, the larger the difference between therupture time predicted by both above two models becomes.