Bursting of molten steel thick films in a steel plate illuminated by a high energy laser

The beauty, kinematics, and dynamics of thin liquid soap films under the influence of gravity have inspired experimental and theoretical investigations by scientists at least since the research of Plateau and Lord Rayleigh in the mid1800s. The wide-ranging interest in thin films may also be attributed in part to readily available, inexpensive ingredients as well as to the enjoyable nature of the interactive activity itself. While the creation of the films produces relatively long-lived persistent films, the violent destruction of the films follows a rupture that may occur spontaneously and can also be initiated by external forces. This paper presents thick liquid films of molten steel and discusses the fundamental nature of the behavior of vertical thick films under the influence of gravity. This paper presents observations of stable thick liquid films of molten steel with thicknesses of 1.5 mm, 1.8 mm, and 1.9 mm. We observe spontaneous bursting of vertical thick films in the presence of gravity, without any other external forces, with an initial horizontal speed of 0.68 m/s–0.9 m/s and a vertical acceleration of ∼(6 ± 1)g, with sudden hole enlargement, like soap film popping. Experimental measurements of the preburst films, following cooling to room temperature, show the presence of a three-dimensional dimple and bulge and fairly agree well with theoretical predictions of Surface Evolver, due to a liquid surface tension that is strong enough to resist the force of gravity.