Xiaopeng Chen, Shreyas Mandre & James J. Feng
Phys. Fluids 18, 051705
(2006)
Abstract - This Letter reports experimental
results for partial coalescence when a drop merges with an interface.
We find an intermediate range of drop sizes in which the merger is not
complete but a daughter drop is left behind. This phenomenon is
governed primarily by inertia and interfacial tension, and three
regimes can be further delineated depending on the roles of viscosity
and gravity. Scaling relationships are developed for the drop size
ratio and the coalescence time. For drops that are too large or too
small, partial coalescence is arrested by gravity or viscosity,
respectively.