A two-dimensional study of the rupture of funicular liquid bridges

An analysis of the rupture behaviour of liquid bridges in simple granular systems is reported. Wet granules present a complex structure in which primary particles are held together at a microscopic scale by means of capillary forces mediated by a liquid binder. These capillary interactions control the mechanical properties of the particle assemblies as well as the kinetics and pathways of granule growth. The evaluation of the interaction between contacting particles by means of the interstitial liquid binder in its various possible configurations has recently been reported for two-dimensional systems of contacting particles (J. Colloid Interface Sci. 220 (1999) 42). In the current work particle separation forces and bridge rupture have been examined for the symmetric separation pathways in all possible wetted states of triplets of particles. The separation force and the energy of the system due to the liquid capillary action have been calculated during the process of separation, which is assumed to occur slowly through a sequence of equilibrium configurations. A wide range of behaviour is found for the rupture processes of the different liquid configurations. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.