Liquid redistribution upon the liquid-bridge rupture between two unequal particles with a minimal energy method

For a polydisperse particulate system, the formation and the rupture of the liquid bridge between two unequal particles have significant effects on the local liquid distribution and the system performance. This work investigated the liquid redistribution behavior upon the liquid-bridge rupture based on the minimal energy method by means of the software Surface Evolver (SE). The redistribution behavior was represented and quantitatively measured by the liquid transfer ratio, which is the ratio of liquid volume retained on the small particle to the total volume of the liquid bridge. The calculated results, including the bridge rupture distance, the capillary force, and the transfer ratio, were compared with previously published data obtained by numerically solving the Laplace-Young equation, showing good agreements. The effects of particle radius ratio, contact angle and the volume of the liquid bridge on the liquid transfer ratio were examined. Measured by the grey relational grade, the radius ratio was found to be the most significant impact factor to the liquid transfer ratio, while the contact angle of the large particle is the least one. Based on the calculated data, an explicit regression model for the liquid transfer ratio prediction was proposed, which can be further implemented in the numerical simulation of the particulate system.