Short and long time drop dynamics on lubricated substrates

A. Carlson, P. Kim, G. Amberg, Howard A. Stone

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

88 Scopus citations

Abstract

Liquid infiltrated solids have been proposed as functional solvent-phobic surfaces for handling single and multiphase flows. Implementation of such surfaces alters the interfacial transport phenomenon as compared to a dry substrate. To better understand the interface characteristics in such systems we study experimentally the dynamics of a pendant water drop in air that contacts a substrate coated by thin oil films. At short times the water drop is deformed by the oil that spreads onto the water-air interface, and the dynamics are characterized by inertial and viscous regimes. At late times, the the oil film under the drop relaxes either to a stable thin film or ruptures. In the thin film rupture regime, we measure the waiting time for the rupture as a function of the drop equilibrium contact angle on a dry substrate and the initial film height. The waiting time is rationalized by lubrication theory, which indicates that long-range intermolecular forces destabilize the oil-water interface and is the primary mechanism for the film drainage.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number34008
JournalEPL
Volume104
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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