Lifetime of a Single Bubble at Different Liquid Surfaces

Bubble bursting at liquid surfaces was investigated experimentally using high-speed imaging at 25,000 fps and micro-particle image velocimetry (µ-PIV) at up to 4000 flow fields per second. Three fluids with distinct rheological properties were studied: a viscous Newtonian fluid (Emkarox, η0 = 0.072 Pa·s) and two non-Newtonian fluids (highly viscous Carboxymethyl Cellulose, HV CMC, η0 = 0.53 Pa·s, and viscoelastic Polyacrylamide, PAAm, η0 = 57.17 Pa·s). Bubble radii ranged from 1.2 to 4.0 mm, with corresponding lifetimes spanning from O(10−2) to O(101) s depending on fluid properties. The relationship between bubble size and lifetime at the air–liquid interface was quantified for the non-Newtonian fluids, using the Newtonian fluid as a reference. µ-PIV measurements further captured the rapid dynamics of bubble bursting beneath the interface in the liquids. These findings provide new insight into the complex interfacial mechanisms governing bubble rupture and fluid motion.