Spontaneous non-linear surface tension oscillations in the presence of a spread surfactant monolayer at the air/water interface

The phenomena accompanying the dissolution of a surfactant droplet under the water/air interface covered by a spread monolayer are studied experimentally and theoretically. It is shown that the variation of the initial surface coverage changes the way of the system evolution. With respect to the character of changes of the interfacial tension with time one can distinguish between three different regimes which replace each other by increase of the initial surface coverage: (i) single oscillation followed by a long period of the monotonous decrease of the surface tension after which repeated non-linear oscillations develop spontaneously; (ii) repeated non-linear oscillations of the surface tension (without period of the monotonous decrease); (iii) monotonous decrease of the surface tension without any oscillation. The hydrodynamics of the observed regimes are discussed. (C)2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.