DOI: 10.1209/epl/i2003-00319-x
Europhys. Lett., 64 (6) , pp. 763-768 (2003)

Equation of motion of the triple contact line along an inhomogeneous surface

V. S. Nikolayev and D. A. Beysens

ESEME, Service des Basses Températures, DSM/DRFMC, CEA - Grenoble, France

vnikolayev@cea.fr

(Received 23 May 2003; accepted in final form 9 October 2003)

Abstract
The wetting flows are controlled by the contact line motion. We derive an equation that describes the slow time evolution of the triple solid-liquid-fluid contact line for an arbitrary distribution of defects on a solid surface. The capillary rise along a partially wetted infinite vertical wall is considered. The contact line is assumed to be only slightly deformed by the defects. The derived equation is solved exactly for a simple example of a single defect.

PACS
68.08.Bc - Wetting.
05.40.-a - Fluctuation phenomena, random processes, noise, and Brownian motion.

© EDP Sciences 2003

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