In an attempt to elucidate the remarkable stability of foams generated from dispersions of partially hydrophobic nanoparticles (fumed silica), we present investigations into the static and dilational properties of the gas–liquid interfaces of such dispersions. By relating the dynamic surface tension γ(t) and the dilational elasticity E measured using an oscillating bubble device, we confirm that the Gibbs stability criterion E > γ/2 against foam coarsening is fulfilled. We complement these studies using ellipsometry and Brewster angle microscopy, which provide evidence for a pronounced adsorption barrier for the particles and a network-like structure in the interface at sufficiently high concentrations. We observe this structure also in freely suspended films drawn from the same particle dispersions.

We present an overview of recent advances in the understanding of foam structure and energy and their dependence on liquid volume fraction. We consider liquid foams in equilibrium for which the relevant energy is surface energy. Measurements of osmotic pressure can be used to determine this as a function of liquid fraction in good agreement with results from computer simulations. This approach is particularly useful in the description of foams with high liquid content, so-called wet foams. For such foams X-ray tomography proves to be an important technique in analysing order and disorder. Much of the discussion in this article is also relevant to bi-liquid foams, i.e. emulsions, and to solid foams, provided that the solidification preserves the structure of the initially liquid foam template.

Interfacial jamming and buckling of particle-coated bubbles can result in the arrest of foam coarsening.

We have studied the foaming properties of aqueous dispersions containing mixtures of silica nano-particles (Ludox TMA) and a short-chain amphiphile (n-amylamine). By combining standard hand shaking methods and microfluidic techniques we show that stable foams can be obtained at amine concentrations above approximately 0.5 wt%, which appears to be a critical concentration for cooperative association between particles and amine. In contrast to foams stabilised solely by nano-particles, these foams suffer from slow coarsening due to gas exchange between bubbles. “Superstable” foams for which coarsening is inhibited can only be produced at sufficiently high particle and amine concentrations (typically 10 and 3 wt%, respectively) for which the dispersions also gel in the continuous phase of the foam. We combine investigations of the static and dynamic properties of the particle-laden air–water interfaces in an attempt to elucidate some of the key mechanisms which control the observed behaviour.