By adding glycerol and plastic beads, scientists have created super-durable bubbles with potential applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
In a study published in the journal Physical Review Fluids on January 18, a team of physicists from the University of Lille, France, presented a method to make a bubble, which is typically fragile and easily broken, last for a record time of 465 days.
The bubbles created by the research team at the University of Lille can last over a year. (Photo: Physical Review Fluids)
According to the research team, regular soap bubbles only last for a moment due to water drainage by gravity or the evaporation of the liquid inside the sphere. However, when they created bubbles with a high concentration of glycerol, this compound proved effective in preventing the bubbles from breaking early. Glycerol is a compound commonly used in many food and pharmaceutical products.
The extended lifespan of the glycerol bubbles is attributed to the stabilizing effect of glycerol. Glycerol has a strong chemical affinity for water and can absorb moisture from the air. The researchers believe that this water absorption compensates for evaporation. Additionally, the application of tiny plastic beads also helps prevent water from escaping the bubble’s shell.
This new research could lead to several practical applications, according to Leif Ristroph, a mathematics professor at New York University. Ristroph specializes in fluid dynamics and has also studied bubbles. He noted that researchers in pharmaceuticals and consumer products are always looking for ways to prevent evaporation.
“I envision that preventing evaporation could have many practical applications. There is a literal example right before our eyes: the tear film covering the surface of the eye is extremely thin and would quickly disappear without large molecules called lipids,” Ristroph said.
“I might be dreaming, but I think it could be beneficial to ‘protect’ tiny droplets in spray bottles, helping them last longer in the air. For instance, some medications are administered through sprays for users to inhale,” he added.
