Effects of Surface Forces and Film Elasticity on Froth Stability

This chapter describes basic parameters, such as surface forces and film elasticity, affecting the stability of foams (two-phase froths). I used the thin film pressure balance (TFPB) technique to measure the surface forces in foam films stabilized with various frothers such as pentanol, octanol, methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC), and polypropylene glycol (PPG). The results were compared with the foam stabilities measured using the shake tests and the film elasticity calculated using the model developed by Wang and Yoon (2006). It was found that at a low electrolyte concentration foam stability is controlled by both film elasticity and surface forces (or disjoining pressure), the relative contributions from each changing with frother concentration and type. Preprint 06-07 © 2006 Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.