title: Constraints on Contact Angles for Multiple Phases in Thermodynamic Equilibrium.
abstract: For three or more fluid phases in thermodynamic equilibrium and in contact with a solid surface, the Young equation can be used to find relations between the contact angles for different pairs of fluids. For an n-fluid-phase system, n(n-1)/2 contact angles can be defined, but there are (n-1)(n-2)/2 constraints between them, leaving only n-1 independent values of the contact angle. These constraints are very powerful in limiting and determining possible types of wetting behavior. The consequences are discussed for three- and four-phase flow. They have important applications for the understanding of gas injection processes in petroleum reservoirs. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.
authors.affiliation: T. H. Huxley School, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2BP, United Kingdom
authors.forename: Martin J.
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Blunt