title: Cassie-Baxter to Wenzel state wetting transition: scaling of the front velocity.
abstract: We experimentally study the dynamics of water in the Cassie-Baxter state to Wenzel state transition on surfaces decorated with assemblies of micrometer-size square pillars arranged on a square lattice. The transition on the micro-patterned superhydrophobic polymer surfaces is followed with a high-speed camera. Detailed analysis of the movement of the liquid during this transition reveals the wetting front velocity dependence on the geometry and material properties. We show that a decrease in gap size as well as an increase in pillar height and intrinsic material hydrophobicity result in a lower front velocity. Scaling arguments based on balancing surface forces and viscous dissipation allow us to derive a relation with which we can rescale all experimentally measured front velocities, obtained for various pattern geometries and materials, on one single curve.
authors: Membrane Technology Group, Faculty of Science and Technology, Mesa+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Peters
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Pirat
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Sbragaglia
authors: B M
authors: BM
authors: Borkent
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Wessling
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Lohse
authors: R G H
authors: RG
authors: Lammertink