Reducing foam friction with self-slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces

Mitigating energy consumption in fluid transportation is crucial for industrial processes. Our research addresses this by investigating the reduction of friction in liquid foams on Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surfaces (SLIPS). These surfaces have asperities filled with oil, significantly reducing friction compared to smooth surfaces. While oil is unsuitable due to its anti-foaming properties, we propose a unique approach using self-SLIPS, introducing the idea that the foam liquid can serve as a lubricant. Our findings demonstrate that these passive surfaces can achieve a 25% reduction in foam friction, promising significant advancements in energy-efficient fluid transport.