Nonlinear dynamics analysis of an ionic surfactant-laden thread in a radial electric field

Ionic surfactants are commonly employed to modify the rheological properties of fluids, particularly in terms of surface viscoelasticity. Concurrently, external electric fields can significantly impact the dynamics of liquid threads. A key question is how ionic surfactants affect the dynamic behaviour of threads in the presence of an electric field? To investigate this, a one-dimensional model of a liquid thread coated with surfactants within a radial electric field is established, employing the long-wave approximation. We systematically investigate the effects of dimensionless parameters associated with the surfactants, including surfactant concentration, dilatational Boussinesq number Bo_µ∞ and shear Boussinesq number Bo_K∞. The results indicate that increasing the surfactant concentration and the two Boussinesq numbers reduces both the maximum growth rate and the dominant wavenumber. In addition, both the electric field and surfactants mitigate the breakup of the liquid thread and the formation of satellite droplets. At low applied electric potentials, the surface viscosity induced by surfactants predominantly governs this suppression. Surface viscosity suppresses the formation of satellite droplets by maintaining the neck point at the centre of the liquid thread within a single disturbance wavelength. When the applied potential is high, the electric stress has two main effects: the external electric field exerts a normal pressure on the liquid thread surface, suppressing satellite droplet formation, while the internal electric field inhibits liquid drainage. Surface viscosity further stabilizes the system by suppressing flow dynamics during this process.