Dynamics of condensation and evaporation: Effect of inter-drop spacing

M. Sokuler; G. K. Auernhammer; C. J. Liu; E. Bonaccurso; H-J. Butt

doi:10.1209/0295-5075/89/36004

All issues

Volume 89 / No 3 (February 2010)

EPL, 89 3 (2010) 36004

Abstract

Issue		EPL Volume 89, Number 3, February 2010


Article Number		36004
Number of page(s)		6
Section		Condensed Matter: Structural, Mechanical and Thermal Properties
DOI		https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/89/36004
Published online		22 February 2010

EPL, 89 (2010) 36004

Dynamics of condensation and evaporation: Effect of inter-drop spacing

M. Sokuler¹^,2, G. K. Auernhammer¹, C. J. Liu¹^,2, E. Bonaccurso¹ and H-J. Butt¹

¹ Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research - Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany, EU
² Center of Smart Interfaces, Technical University Darmstadt - D-64289 Darmstadt, Germany, EU

Corresponding authors: auhammer@mpip-mainz.mpg.de butt@mpip-mainz.mpg.de

Received: 17 September 2009
Accepted: 21 January 2010

Abstract

When studying the condensation of vapor to liquid drops on solid hydrophobic surfaces the volume of drops V is found to increase linearly with time, $V\propto t$ . Constant-contact-angle evaporation studies showed that drop volumes decrease according to $V\propto t^{3/2}$ . Since both processes are diffusion limited, one would expect the same kinetics. Here, we demonstrate experimentally, theoretically and by finite-element simulations that the spacing between condensing or evaporating drops affects the growth. The volume of single, isolated drops changes according to $V\propto t^{3/2}$ . For a dense array of drops each individual drop will grow or shrink linearly, $V\propto t$ .

PACS: 64.70.fm – Thermodynamics studies of evaporation and condensation / 68.03.Fg – Evaporation and condensation of liquids

© EPLA, 2010

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