Jan Vermant is professor of Soft Materials at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zürich, Switzerland.

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Course Description

Interfaces are ubiquitous in soft matter systems, with applications in consumer products, biology and related materials. Fluid interfaces in complex fluids have in addition to the thermodynamics aspects, a dedicated rheological response which stems from the deformation of the interfacial structure. The field of interfacial rheology has been expanding rapidly over the past few years, both in terms of measurement techniques and a widening array of applications.

Course Outline

Saturday

The course will start with an introduction on thermodynamics of interfaces and capillarity. We will then turn our attention to the role of interfaces in fluid mechanics, and gradually increase the complexity of the interfacial response introducing the relevant deformation modes and the role of the interface in drainage flows.

Measurement techniques for interfacial rheometry and structure will be discussed in detail, with an emphasis on the proper measurement of the different material functions and the experimental observables.

Sunday

The fundamental concepts will be applied to a range of applications, from thin film stability in lung surfactants and tear films, over particles and interfaces and Pickering emulsions, polymers at interfaces, other surface active components such as surfactants, proteins and fatty acids, ending with phospholipids. Applications will span topics as diverse as oil field applications, bacterial biofilms and monoclonal antibodies.

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Short Course Registration

Short course registration includes a complete set of course notes. Payment can be made on line with MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express.

Cancellations for the short course received by electronic mail (c/o The Local Arrangements Chair, Prof. Don Baird, dbaird@vt.edu) by January 6, 2017 will be refunded minus a $50 administrative charge.  No refunds will be granted after that date. Typically each class is limited to 40 students.

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Questions can be directed to Professor Jonathan Rothstein, University of Massachusetts, current chair of the SOR Education Committee, at rothstein@ecs.umass.edu.