Materials Science seminar by G.G. Fuller, chemical engineer, Stanford

Biological fluids are often interfacially active and, consequently, display nonlinear rheological responses at liquid/fluid interfaces. Although much less developed that bulk rheological methods, a number of techniques have been developed to access for the mechanical rheometry of complex interfaces and the corresponding microstructure. This lecture will present results on two systems: the meibomian lipid layer protecting the human eye and biofilms growing at the air/water interface.