English

Studying Macro- and Mesoscopic Wetting Dynamics of a Spreading Oil Droplet Using Multiple Wavelength Interferometry

Fluid Dynamics 2024-12-24 v2

Abstract

In this study we present an interferometric technique based on multiple wavelengths to capture the transient free surface contour of nanoliter drops spreading on a wettable surface, in particular close to the three-phase contact line. Various data analysis procedures are evaluated in terms of error and noise sensitivity. The technique allows an unambiguous determination of the local liquid film thickness for optical path differences up to Δs3.19μm\Delta s \approx 3.19\,\mathrm{\mu m} without the need of a known reference height. Film thicknesses as low as 0.1μm0.1\,\mathrm{\mu m} can be measured with the present optical configuration. The entire three-dimensional droplet shape is investigated for different capillary numbers, allowing also reliable measurements of the time-resolved contact angle.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2306.13537,
  title  = {Studying Macro- and Mesoscopic Wetting Dynamics of a Spreading Oil Droplet Using Multiple Wavelength Interferometry},
  author = {Timo Richter and Mathis Fricke and Peter Stephan and Cameron Tropea and Jeanette Hussong},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2306.13537},
  year   = {2024}
}

Comments

10 pages, 9 figures