Effects of the surface tension gradient and viscosity on coalescence-induced droplet jumping on superamphiphobic surfaces

With the development of superhydrophobic surface preparation technology, coalescence-induced droplet jumping shows broad application prospects in the fields of enhanced condensation heat transfer and self-cleaning. In this work, the coalescence-induced jumping process of heterogeneous and homogeneous droplets on superamphiphobic surfaces was studied by using glycerol-water mixtures with different glycerol volume fractions. The results showed that the surface tension gradient of heterogeneous droplets will lead to asymmetric deformation of droplets, asymmetric distribution of internal pressure of droplets, as well as decrease in the energy conversion efficiency and the vertical departure velocity. Our study also revealed that the effects of surface tension gradient and viscosity on droplet jumping are different in the two regions. When the glycerol volume fraction is less than 40%, the droplet velocity and energy conversion are dominated by the surface tension gradient, and the vertical departure velocity and the energy conversion efficiency of homogeneous droplets are larger. When the glycerol volume fraction is greater than 40%, the droplet velocity and energy conversion are dominated by the surface tension gradient and viscosity together, and the vertical departure velocity and the energy conversion efficiency of heterogeneous droplets are larger. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.

Automated summary

With the development of superhydrophobic surface technology, coalescence-induced droplet jumping has broad applications in condensation heat transfer and self-cleaning. This study examines the process of droplet jumping induced by coalescence on superamphiphobic surfaces using glycerol-water mixtures with different glycerol volume fractions. Results indicate that the effects of surface tension gradient and viscosity on droplet jumping differ in different regions.