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Elastocapillary coalescence in wet hair

Author

Listed:
  • José Bico

    (Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes (UMR CNRS 7636), ESPCI)

  • Benoît Roman

    (Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes (UMR CNRS 7636), ESPCI)

  • Loïc Moulin

    (Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes (UMR CNRS 7636), ESPCI)

  • Arezki Boudaoud

    (Laboratoire de Physique Statistique de l'ENS (UMR CNRS 8550))

Abstract

We investigated why wet hair clumps into bundles by dunking a model brush of parallel elastic lamellae into a perfectly wetting liquid. As the brush is withdrawn, pairs of bundles aggregate successively, forming complex hierarchical patterns that depend on a balance between capillary forces and the elasticity of the lamellae. This capillary-driven self-assembly of flexible structures, which occurs in the tarsi of insects1 and in biomimetic adhesives2 but which can also damage micro-electromechanical structures3,4,5,6 or carbon nanotube ‘carpets’6,7,8, represents a new type of coalescence process.

Suggested Citation

  • José Bico & Benoît Roman & Loïc Moulin & Arezki Boudaoud, 2004. "Elastocapillary coalescence in wet hair," Nature, Nature, vol. 432(7018), pages 690-690, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:432:y:2004:i:7018:d:10.1038_432690a
    DOI: 10.1038/432690a
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    Cited by:

    1. Madeleine Seale & Annamaria Kiss & Simone Bovio & Ignazio Maria Viola & Enrico Mastropaolo & Arezki Boudaoud & Naomi Nakayama, 2022. "Dandelion pappus morphing is actuated by radially patterned material swelling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.

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