Relationship between sliding acceleration of water droplets and dynamic contact angles on hydrophobic surfaces

This study measured sliding acceleration of water droplets on hydrophobic solid surfaces and used expanding and contracting method to compare that value with dynamic contact angles. Sliding action of the droplet was classified into three motion categories: constant accelerated motion, constant velocity and stasis. Differences exist in the dependencies of contact radius and the injection-suction rate in dynamic contact angle hysteresis according to these categories. This method is an effective indicator of water droplets' sliding acceleration. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.