Gelling non-Newtonian drops impacting on liquids: experiments, numerical simulations, and AI-empowered

• Grant number: 24/04769-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Mathematics - Applied Mathematics
• Principal Investigator: Cassio Machiaveli Oishi
• Grantee: Cassio Machiaveli Oishi
• Principal researcher abroad: Anselmo Soeiro Pereira
• Institution abroad: ParisTech, France
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Irineu Lopes Palhares Junior

Abstract

One of the most challenging problems coupling interfacial hydrodynamics, soft matterrheology, and material phase change concerns the impact of non-Newtonian drops (polymersolutions, suspensions, emulsions etc.) on a chemically reactive Newtonian liquid inducing dropgelation, i.e., the drop, which is initially a weak gel 1 , solidifies while penetrating the liquid, becomingthen a strong gel 2. This fundamental and scarcely explored physicochemicalhydrodynamics' topic is directly related to extremely important health and industrial applications,such as: encapsulation processes (for the protection of transplanted pancreatic islets cells, forexample), 3D-bioprinting of cells, tissues, organs, prosthetics, and wound dressings; and ceramicbeads and non-spherical solid particles production.In the endeavour to deeply predict and control the processes listed above, the importance of thefollowing question cannot be overestimated: how do non-Newtonian drops behave when hitting achemically reactive Newtonian liquid inducing drop gelation? The answer to this question isthe core of this project. (AU)