Surface-ascension of discrete liquid drops via experimental reactive wetting and lattice Boltzmann simulation

The reactive-wetting technique is employed to move liquid against gravitational force. Experiments have shown that the velocity of an ascending liquid drop is constant, unlike the gradual decrease intuitively linked to objects against gravitation. The ascending velocity decreases for increasing slope. The maximum inclination, or stopping, angle for this particular setup is > 25 degrees. Computer simulation of a reactive-wetting drop using the lattice Boltzmann method is also performed. The results indicate that the method employed is suitable for the task, producing most experimentally observable responses. The mass flow of a liquid drop under reactive wetting was studied through simulation results, and a general description of the reactive-wetting phenomenon was deduced.