Research focus
The group investigates the behavior of complex fluids at their interfaces with solids and gases. For instance, ball pens work well on paper, but would typically fail on glass. The reason for this is the different interaction of the ink, a complex fluid, with the different kinds of surfaces. Similarly, the quality of an ink-jet print depends critically on the drying behavior of the ink which is deposited as tiny droplets onto almost any kind of surface. From ambient humidity to surface porosity, various parameters will impact this process. The impact of our projects spans from everyday occurrence (e.g. paper) over biology to computer technology (silicon microchips).