Ternary fluid lattice Boltzmann simulation of dynamic interfacial tension induced by mixing inside microdroplets

A ternary fluid color-gradient lattice Boltzmann model is proposed to investigate the effect of mixing-induced dynamic interfacial tension on the diffusive mixing of two fluids inside microdroplets moving in a third continuous phase through a baffled channel. The diffusion coefficient of binary mixtures and dynamic interfacial tension in this model can be directly defined and independently adjusted. The simulation results show that the dynamic interfacial tension between miscible binary fluids at interfaces with ambient phase would lead to the motion of the interface and redistribution of solutes inside the droplet during mixing. The larger initial interfacial tension gradient would improve mixing efficiency at early stages by promoting faster solute flow. The present model can be easily applied to quantitatively characterize the mixing behavior inside droplets in the practical processes involving the dynamic interfacial tension phenomenon and inspire new designs for mixing intensification.