Viscous liquid–liquid wetting and dewetting of textured surfaces

Abstract

We experimentally investigate the spreading and receding behavior of small water droplets immersed in viscous oils on grid-patterned surfaces using synchronized bottom and profile views. In particular, the evolution of apparent advancing and receding contact angles of droplets fed at constant flow rate is studied as a function of grid surface coverage and height for a wide range of external phase viscosity. Detailed examination of droplet aspect ratio during inflation process provides an averaging method for characterization of quasi-static advancing angles on heterogeneous surfaces. Droplets spreading in partial Cassie state on planar microfluidic grids are also shown to capture oil patches that further evolve into trapped oil droplets depending on grid aspect ratio. The natural retraction velocity of thin water films is examined based on external phase velocity and regime maps of trapped droplets are delineated based on control parameters.