Initial spreading of low-viscosity drops on partially wetting surfaces
Fluid Dynamics
2012-11-19 v3
Abstract
Liquid drops start spreading directly after brought into contact with a partial wetting substrate. Although this phenomenon involves a three-phase contact line, the spreading motion is very fast. We study the initial spreading dynamics of low-viscosity drops, using two complementary methods: Molecular Dynamics simulations and high-speed imaging. We access previously unexplored length- and time-scales, and provide a detailed picture on how the initial contact between the liquid drop and the solid is established. Both methods unambiguously point towards a spreading regime that is independent of wettability, with the contact radius growing as the square root of time.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1201.4005,
title = {Initial spreading of low-viscosity drops on partially wetting surfaces},
author = {Koen G. Winkels and Joost H. Weijs and Antonin Eddi and Jacco H. Snoeijer},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1201.4005},
year = {2012}
}