Visualization study on microscale wetting dynamics of water droplets on dry and wet hydrophilic membranes

Abstract

The wetting dynamics of water droplets dispensed on the surface of dry and wet hydrophilic membranes were investigated experimentally from a microscale point of view. By using a high-speed, white-beam x-ray microimaging (WXMI) synchrotron, consecutive images displaying the dynamic motions of the droplets were acquired. Through analyzing the characteristics observed, it was found that the dry hydrophilic membrane showed local hydrophobicity at a certain point during the absorption process with apparent contact angles greater than 90. While on the other hand, the apparent contact angles of a water droplet absorbing into the wet membrane remained less than 90 and showed total hydrophilicity. The observations and interpretation of characteristics that affect the contact, wetting, recoiling, and dynamic behaviors of droplets are significant for controlling liquid droplet impingement in a desired manner.