Breakup of large water droplets by electric fields

The authors present the results of an experimental study of the processes which lead to the breakup of a large water droplet, doped with alcohol to approach the density of oil, and immersed in an oil dielectric medium to which a strong electric field is applied. The study, carried out by photography, showed that the deformation of the droplets prior to breakup undergoes a few characteristic stages of importance to the induction charging and to the ultimate charge separation phenomena. The breakup sequence, which depends on the shape of the electrodes is illustrated photographically.<>