First steps in the spreading of a liquid droplet.
We describe the first steps of spreading of a liquid droplet brought in contact with a solid that it wets completely. Usually, it is assumed that the dynamics of the droplet results from a balance between the spreading forces and viscosity. But before this classical stage, inertia resists to the motion, which leads to a very different dynamic law. We study experimentally the nature of this law, compare our results with recent theoretical predictions, and determine the duration of this inertial regime.
Biance
Anne-Laure
AL
Laboratoire de Physique de la Matière Condensée, UMR 7125 du CNRS, Collège de France, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
Clanet
Christophe
C
Quéré
David
D