Chenhao Sun1, James McClure2, Steffen Berg3, Peyman Mostaghimi4, Ryan T Armstrong5. 1. State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China. 2. Advanced Research Computing, Virginia Tech, Wright House, W. Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. 3. Shell Global Solutions International B.V., Grasweg 31, 1031 WG Amsterdam, Netherlands; Imperial College London, Department of Earth Science & Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2BX, United Kingdom. 4. School of Minerals & Energy Resources Engineering, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales 2052, Australia. 5. School of Minerals & Energy Resources Engineering, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales 2052, Australia. Electronic address: ryan.armstrong@unsw.edu.au.
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS: Emerging energy-related technologies deal with multiscale hierarchical structures, intricate surface morphology, non-axisymmetric interfaces, and complex contact lines where wetting is difficult to quantify with classical methods. We hypothesise that a universal description of wetting on multiscale surfaces can be developed by using integral geometry coupled to thermodynamic laws. The proposed approach separates the different hierarchy levels of physical description from the thermodynamic description, allowing for a universal description of wetting on multiscale surfaces. THEORY AND SIMULATIONS: The theoretical framework is presented followed by application to limiting cases of wetting on multiscale surfaces. Limiting cases include those considered in the Wenzel, Cassie-Baxter, and wicking state models. Wetting characterisation of multiscale surfaces is explored by conducting simulations of a fluid droplet on a structurally rough surface and a chemically heterogeneous surface. FINDINGS: The underlying origin of the classical wetting models is shown to be rooted within the proposed theoretical framework. Integral geometry provides a topological-based wetting metric that is not contingent on any type of wetting state. The wetting metric is demonstrated to account for multiscale features along the common line in a scale consistent way; providing a universal description of wetting for multiscale surfaces.
HYPOTHESIS: Emerging energy-related technologies deal with multiscale hierarchical structures, intricate surface morphology, non-axisymmetric interfaces, and complex contact lines where wetting is difficult to quantify with classical methods. We hypothesise that a universal description of wetting on multiscale surfaces can be developed by using integral geometry coupled to thermodynamic laws. The proposed approach separates the different hierarchy levels of physical description from the thermodynamic description, allowing for a universal description of wetting on multiscale surfaces. THEORY AND SIMULATIONS: The theoretical framework is presented followed by application to limiting cases of wetting on multiscale surfaces. Limiting cases include those considered in the Wenzel, Cassie-Baxter, and wicking state models. Wetting characterisation of multiscale surfaces is explored by conducting simulations of a fluid droplet on a structurally rough surface and a chemically heterogeneous surface. FINDINGS: The underlying origin of the classical wetting models is shown to be rooted within the proposed theoretical framework. Integral geometry provides a topological-based wetting metric that is not contingent on any type of wetting state. The wetting metric is demonstrated to account for multiscale features along the common line in a scale consistent way; providing a universal description of wetting for multiscale surfaces.
Authors: Javier E Santos; Bernard Chang; Alex Gigliotti; Ying Yin; Wenhui Song; Maša Prodanović; Qinjun Kang; Nicholas Lubbers; Hari Viswanathan Journal: Sci Data Date: 2022-10-03 Impact factor: 8.501