Continuous long-distance liquid transport along fibers arising from Plateau-Rayleigh instability

Abstract

Liquid transport on fibers is crucial for various applications but often faces disruptions due to drop formation from Plateau-Rayleigh instability. This study reports the continuous liquid transport on ribbon-like fibers leveraging the instability. Liquid deposited on the fiber aggregates on the broad side with low curvature, triggering Plateau-Rayleigh instability with long wavelengths. The formed drops are connected by a flowing film, enabling liquid transport over centimeter-scale distances without external forces. Particle-image velocimetry analysis reveals opposing flows in the film and organized vortices in the shear layer, driven by capillary effects. Leveraging the long-wave characteristics of Plateau-Rayleigh instability, we introduce a rivulets-on-web structure that uses liquid bridges as artificial drops to enable continuous transport over a 10 cm² fiber web. The unique transport characteristics of ribbon-like fibers and fiber webs are promising for practical applications.