Observation of the spreading and receding behavior of a shear-thinning liquid drop impacting on dry solid surfaces

► The shear-thinning effect causes a drop to spread widely and recedes rapidly. ► Wettability has a minor effect on spreading but a significant effect on receding. ► Low-viscosity drops impacting on a hydrophobic surface at high velocity recede fast. ► A drop with a small degree of shear-thinning rebounds from a hydrophobic surface. ► Receding of high-viscosity drops impacting on a hydrophilic surface is suppressed.