Offset coalescence behaviour of impacting low-surface tension droplet on high-surface-tension droplet

TL;DR

This study experimentally investigates how impacting droplets with different surface tensions behave on a solid surface, revealing significant effects on spreading dynamics and developing a predictive model for maximum spread length.

Contribution

It introduces an experimental analysis of impact dynamics between droplets of varying surface tension and proposes a model to predict spreading length based on these parameters.

Findings

Lower surface tension increases spreading length.

Impact velocity and offset significantly affect spreading dynamics.

A predictive model for maximum spread length is developed.

Abstract

Impact of droplets of varying surface tension and subsequent spreading over a solid surface are inherent features in printing applications. In this regard, an experimental study of impact of two drops of varied surface tension is carried out where the sessile water droplet on a hydrophilic substrate is impacted upon by another droplet of sequentially lowered surface tension. The impacts are studied for different impact velocities and offsets with respect to the mid-plane of the two colliding droplets. Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) is used to alter the surface tension without altering the viscosity, to study the various parameters affecting the spreading length viz. the surface tension, offset between the drops, and impact velocity. The spreading lengths are obtained through image processing of the captured footage of the impact dynamics by a high-speed camera. It is found out that upon lowering the surface tension, the maximum and equilibrium spreading length varies to a significant extent also the nature of the spreading dynamics changes. Both side and top-view imaging are performed to understand the overall hydrodynamics. There is also a substantial change in drawback when dissimilarity is surface tension between the impacting droplets exist. Finally, a fit model is obtained to predict the maximum spread length of the various cases.