The effect of gravity on the stability of an evaporating dichloromethane liquid film

TL;DR

This study investigates how zero gravity affects the stability of evaporating dichloromethane liquid films, revealing that films stable on Earth become destabilized in space, with a criterion for stability based on long wave theory.

Contribution

It introduces a stability criterion for evaporating DCM films in zero gravity, extending understanding of film dynamics beyond Earth's gravity conditions.

Findings

Films destabilize in zero gravity compared to Earth.

The maximum growth rate mode appears at rupture regardless of initial conditions.

A stability criterion based on long wave theory is proposed.

Abstract

Zero gravity evaporation of a Dicholoromethane (DCM) liquid film is explored. The resulting film dynamics are presented and a criterion for stable films is described based on the long wave theory. It is concluded that films subject to long wave instabilities shows the appearance of the mode of maximum growth rate at rupture, irrespective of the initial condition or domain size conditions. Films stable in Earth's gravity are destabilized in zero gravity.