The Laboratory of Micro Hydrodynamics and Flow in Porous Media is focused on fundamental and applied research on free surface flows of complex liquids in microscale.  This class of flow occurs in many situations such as thin films, fluid displacement in porous materials and two-phase flows in microfluidics devices.  The industrial applications are innumerous, and our current research projects are focused coating processes used in the manufacturing of functional films, displays, batteries and photovoltaic panels; microencapsulation for controlled chemical delivery; emulsion and dispersion stability and enhanced oil recovery.

The activities have been developed with collaboration and financial support from different industries in Brazil (Petrobras, 3M, Repsol-Sinopec, Chevron, Equinor, Shell), USA (3M, HP, Dow Chemicals) and Asia (Fuji Photo Film, Nippon Steel, Samsung); and from Brazilian government research funding agencies.

The Laboratory is equipped with state of the art instruments for rock characterization (permeameter, porosimeter, capillary pressure measurement), core flooding tests (four units for liquid and gas injection in rocks), complex fluids and interfaces characterization (rheometers, tensiometers, particle size analyzer, gas chromatograph), micro scale visualization (microscopes, microPIV system, confocal microscope, high speed cameras), microfluidics (microscopes, syringe pumps, microdevices) and numerical simulations (computers).  This infrastructure is used in the R&D projects with partner companies, graduate student thesis and providing specialized fluid characterization service for industry, such as rheological measurements, particle size distribution in complex dispersions and interfacial properties.

Visit our homepage for more detailed information, including a description of the laboratory facilities, description of current research projects, publications, research team and industry partnerships and service.

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