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Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 383, 1-3 (2011) 17-22
Liquid-solid interaction at nanoscale and its application in vegetal biology
Henri Gouin ( ) 1
(21/06/2011)

The water ascent in tall trees is subject to controversy: the vegetal biologists debate on the validity of the cohesion-tension theory which considers strong negative pressures in microtubes of xylem carrying the crude sap. This article aims to point out that liquids are submitted at the walls to intermolecular forces inferring density gradients making heterogeneous liquid layers and therefore disqualifying the Navier-Stokes equations for nanofilms. The crude sap motion takes the disjoining pressure gradient into account and the sap flow dramatically increases such that the watering of nanolayers may be analogous to a microscopic flow. Application to microtubes of xylem avoids the problem of cavitation and enables us to understand why the ascent of sap is possible for very high trees.
1 :  Modélisation et Simulation Numérique en Mécanique et Génie des Procédés (MSNMGP)
CNRS : UMR6181 – Université de la Méditerranée - Aix-Marseille II – Université de Provence - Aix-Marseille I – Université Paul Cézanne - Aix-Marseille III
Physique/Physique/Biophysique

Sciences du Vivant/Biologie végétale

Physique/Physique/Chimie-Physique

Physique/Mécanique/Mécanique des fluides

Sciences de l'ingénieur/Mécanique/Mécanique des fluides
Nanofilms – disjoining pressure – cohesion-tension theory – interface motions – Navier length – ascent of sap
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