Particle-laden bubbles and stability of Pickering foams*

This work is aimed at gaining a fundamental understanding on the role of particle attributes on foam stability. We have investigated the properties of Pickering foams, stabilized with fumed and spherical colloidal silica nanoparticles, and studied the impacts of particle attributes on the resulting properties such as bubble microstructure, foam liquid content, and foam half-life. Our findings reveal that while both particles can stabilize the interface and make long-lasting foams, the resulting Pickering foams are markedly different with respect to their resistance to various destabilization mechanisms, which can be linked to their interfacial rheology. Building on the insights obtained on particle-stabilized foams, we have extended the work to better understand the foaming behavior in mixed systems for the case of like-charged particles and surfactants. In this presentation, we will highlight the key findings on impact of surface attributes and share insights obtained on the synergistic behavior captured in the mixed systems.