%0 Journal Article
%T Initial spreading of low-viscosity drops on partially wetting surfaces
%A Koen G. Winkels
%A Joost H. Weijs
%A Antonin Eddi
%A Jacco H. Snoeijer
%J Physics
%D 2012
%I arXiv
%R 10.1103/PhysRevE.85.055301
%X Liquid drops start spreading directly after brought into contact with a partial wetting substrate. Although this phenomenon involves a three-phase contact line, the spreading motion is very fast. We study the initial spreading dynamics of low-viscosity drops, using two complementary methods: Molecular Dynamics simulations and high-speed imaging. We access previously unexplored length- and time-scales, and provide a detailed picture on how the initial contact between the liquid drop and the solid is established. Both methods unambiguously point towards a spreading regime that is independent of wettability, with the contact radius growing as the square root of time.
%U http://arxiv.org/abs/1201.4005v3