Kavitasjonen

Kavitasjonen refers to the formation and subsequent collapse of bubbles or voids in a liquid. This phenomenon typically occurs when the pressure within the liquid drops below its vapor pressure, causing the liquid to vaporize and form these cavities. The surrounding liquid then rushes in to fill these voids when the pressure increases again, leading to a rapid and violent implosion of the bubbles.

The collapse of these cavitation bubbles generates localized shock waves and microjets of liquid. These intense forces can cause significant damage to solid surfaces in contact with the liquid, a process known as cavitation erosion. This erosion can be observed in various industrial applications, such as in pumps, turbines, propellers, and even medical devices like ultrasonic cleaners and lithotripsy equipment.

In medical contexts, controlled cavitation is utilized for therapeutic purposes. For instance, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) can induce cavitation for non-invasive tumor ablation. In dentistry, ultrasonic scalers use cavitation to break down plaque and calculus from teeth. However, uncontrolled cavitation can be detrimental, leading to wear and tear on machinery and potentially affecting biological tissues. Understanding the mechanisms and controlling cavitation is crucial for both preventing damage and harnessing its beneficial applications.