Minimum Leidenfrost Temperature on Smooth Surfaces

During the Leidenfrost effect, a thin insulating vapor layer separates an evaporating liquid from a hot solid. Here we demonstrate that Leidenfrost vapor layers can be sustained at much lower temperatures than those required for formation. Using a high-speed electrical technique to measure the thickness of water vapor layers over smooth, metallic surfaces, we find that the explosive failure point is nearly independent of material and fluid properties, suggesting a purely hydrodynamic mechanism determines this threshold. For water vapor layers of several millimeters in size, the minimum temperature for stability is approximate to 140 degrees C, corresponding to an average vapor layer thickness of 10-20 mu m.

Automated summary

Research demonstrates that Leidenfrost vapor layers can be sustained at lower temperatures than those required for their formation, with the explosive failure point being nearly independent of material and fluid properties, indicating a purely hydrodynamic mechanism governs this threshold.