Thickness of gravity-flattened water layers (“puddles”) deposited on the polymer substrates and the hysteresis of the contact angle

Height of gravity-flattened water layers (“puddles”) was established experimentally for various polymer substrates. The height of the puddles grows with the volume of the puddle and comes to the saturation value for the 1500 μl volume. This saturation height is dictated by the advancing contact angle inherent for water/polymer system.

. The phenomenon of contact angle hysteresis exerts an impact on heights of water layers deposited on the polymer substrates and flattened by gravity (liquid “puddles”). The height of the puddles grows with the volume of the puddle and comes to the saturation value. The profile of water puddle on PE: the advancing angle of 108° is shown.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights▶ Maximal height of puddles is governed by the advancing contact angle and not Young angles inherent for water/polymer substrate pair. ▶ The phenomenon of contact angle hysteresis exerts an impact on heights of the gravity flattened water layers deposited on the polymer substrates. ▶ The notion of the receding contact angle is meaningless relatively to extruded polymer substrates.