Bubbles in wet, gummed wine labels

P. Broadbridge; G.R. Fulford; Neville Fowkes; D.Y.C. Chan; C. Lassig

doi:10.1137/S0036144598347023

Bubbles in wet, gummed wine labels

P. Broadbridge, G.R. Fulford, Neville Fowkes, D.Y.C. Chan, C. Lassig

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

It is shown that bubbling on wine bottle labels is due to absorption of water from the glue, with subsequent hygroscopic expansion. Contrary to popular belief, most of the glue's water must be lost to the atmosphere rather than to the paper. A simple lubrication model is developed for spreading glue piles in the pressure chamber of the labelling machine. This model predicts a maximum rate for application of labels. Buckling theory shows that the current arrangement of periodic glue strips can indeed accommodate paper expansion. This project provides interesting applications of various areas of undergraduate mathematics, such as trigonometry, Maclaurin series, dimensional analysis, and fluid mechanics. It illustrates that simple mathematical modelling may provide insight into a complicated real-world problem.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	363-372
Journal	SIAM Review
Volume	41
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1137/S0036144598347023
Publication status	Published - 1999

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title = "Bubbles in wet, gummed wine labels",

abstract = "It is shown that bubbling on wine bottle labels is due to absorption of water from the glue, with subsequent hygroscopic expansion. Contrary to popular belief, most of the glue's water must be lost to the atmosphere rather than to the paper. A simple lubrication model is developed for spreading glue piles in the pressure chamber of the labelling machine. This model predicts a maximum rate for application of labels. Buckling theory shows that the current arrangement of periodic glue strips can indeed accommodate paper expansion. This project provides interesting applications of various areas of undergraduate mathematics, such as trigonometry, Maclaurin series, dimensional analysis, and fluid mechanics. It illustrates that simple mathematical modelling may provide insight into a complicated real-world problem.",

author = "P. Broadbridge and G.R. Fulford and Neville Fowkes and D.Y.C. Chan and C. Lassig",

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T1 - Bubbles in wet, gummed wine labels

AU - Broadbridge, P.

AU - Fulford, G.R.

AU - Fowkes, Neville

AU - Chan, D.Y.C.

AU - Lassig, C.

PY - 1999

Y1 - 1999

N2 - It is shown that bubbling on wine bottle labels is due to absorption of water from the glue, with subsequent hygroscopic expansion. Contrary to popular belief, most of the glue's water must be lost to the atmosphere rather than to the paper. A simple lubrication model is developed for spreading glue piles in the pressure chamber of the labelling machine. This model predicts a maximum rate for application of labels. Buckling theory shows that the current arrangement of periodic glue strips can indeed accommodate paper expansion. This project provides interesting applications of various areas of undergraduate mathematics, such as trigonometry, Maclaurin series, dimensional analysis, and fluid mechanics. It illustrates that simple mathematical modelling may provide insight into a complicated real-world problem.

AB - It is shown that bubbling on wine bottle labels is due to absorption of water from the glue, with subsequent hygroscopic expansion. Contrary to popular belief, most of the glue's water must be lost to the atmosphere rather than to the paper. A simple lubrication model is developed for spreading glue piles in the pressure chamber of the labelling machine. This model predicts a maximum rate for application of labels. Buckling theory shows that the current arrangement of periodic glue strips can indeed accommodate paper expansion. This project provides interesting applications of various areas of undergraduate mathematics, such as trigonometry, Maclaurin series, dimensional analysis, and fluid mechanics. It illustrates that simple mathematical modelling may provide insight into a complicated real-world problem.

U2 - 10.1137/S0036144598347023

DO - 10.1137/S0036144598347023

M3 - Article

VL - 41

SP - 363

EP - 372

JO - SIAM Review

JF - SIAM Review

SN - 0036-1445

ER -