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Equilibrium of drops on inclined hydrophilic surfaces

Why does not gravity make drops slip down the inclined surfaces, e.g., plant leaves? The current explanation is based on the existence of surface inhomogeneities, which cause a sustaining force that pins the contact line. Following this theory, the drop remains in equilibrium until a critical value of the sustaining force is reached. We propose an alternative analysis, from the point of view of energy balance, for the particular case in which the drop leaves a liquid film behind. The critical angle of the inclined surface at which the drop slips down is predicted. This result does not depend explicitly on surface inhomogeneities, but only on the drop size and surface tensions. There is good agreement with experiments for contact angles below 90° where the formation of the film is expected, whereas for greater contact angles great discrepancies arise

© Physical Review E, 2001, vol. 64, núm. 1, p. 011601

American Physical Society

Author: Roura Grabulosa, Pere
Fort, Joaquim
Date: 2001
Abstract: Why does not gravity make drops slip down the inclined surfaces, e.g., plant leaves? The current explanation is based on the existence of surface inhomogeneities, which cause a sustaining force that pins the contact line. Following this theory, the drop remains in equilibrium until a critical value of the sustaining force is reached. We propose an alternative analysis, from the point of view of energy balance, for the particular case in which the drop leaves a liquid film behind. The critical angle of the inclined surface at which the drop slips down is predicted. This result does not depend explicitly on surface inhomogeneities, but only on the drop size and surface tensions. There is good agreement with experiments for contact angles below 90° where the formation of the film is expected, whereas for greater contact angles great discrepancies arise
Format: application/pdf
ISSN: 1539-3755 (versió paper)
1550-2376 (versió electrònica)
Document access: http://hdl.handle.net/10256/7626
Language: eng
Publisher: American Physical Society
Collection: Reproducció digital del document publicat a: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.64.011601
Articles publicats (D-F)
Is part of: © Physical Review E, 2001, vol. 64, núm. 1, p. 011601
Rights: Tots els drets reservats
Subject: Equilibri
Equilibrium
Title: Equilibrium of drops on inclined hydrophilic surfaces
Type: info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Repository: DUGiDocs

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