A COMBINED MOLECULAR-HYDRODYNAMIC APPROACH TO WETTING KINETICS

A model describing wetting kinetics on the basis of the hydrodynamic equation of Cox [J. Fluid Mech. 1986, 168, 169] and the molecular-kinetic equation of Blake and Haynes [J. Colloid Interface Sci. 1969, 30,421] is proposed. It takes into account both viscous dissipation of energy in the bulk of the liquid and dissipation in the immediate proximity to the three-phase contact line. Our experimental results on the velocity dependences of receding dynamic angles and literature data for advancing of aqueous glycerol solutions on hydrophobic solid surfaces are used to compare theory and experiment. Good coincidence is observed in all cases of receding mode. At advancing the agreement is qualitative in systems with high Reynolds numbers, Re, and improves when Re decreases, as required by Cox theory.