Plateau-Rayleigh instability in nanoscale polymer rings

ORAL

Abstract

A liquid jet can break up into a stream of droplets as a result of the Plateau-Rayleigh instability. Droplet formation decreases the jet's surface area and hence its free energy. Here we present the results of experiments in an unconventional geometry where this instability can be observed: toroidal sections. We discuss the formation of toroidal polystyrene with nanometer length scales. The constraints imposed by this geometry affect its observed instability in comparison to a simple linear jet. Specifically,the curvature imposed by the ring plays a crucial role in the energy minimization route.

*Financial support of NSERC of Canada is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors

  • Kari Dalnoki-Veress

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4M1
    • Department of Physics \& Astronomy and the Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4M1

  • Joshua McGraw

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4M1

  • Jianfeng Li

    • Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China

  • David Tran

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4M1

  • An-Chang Shi

    • McMaster University
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4M1