Contact Angle Hysteresis: The Need for New Theoretical and Experimental Models

• Published in: The Journal of adhesion Vol. 63; no. 1-3; pp. 159 - 185
• Main Authors: Decker, E. L., Garoff, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Taylor & Francis Group 01.06.1997; Taylor and Francis
• Subjects: Chemistry; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Contact angle; contact angle hysteresis; contact line; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; heterogeneous surface; interface roughness; Physics; Solid-fluid interfaces; Solid-liquid interface; spreading; Surface physical chemistry; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Wetting; Liquid solid interface; Heterogeneous surface; Wetting; Spreading; Surface properties; Contact angle; Review; Rough surface; Contact line
• ISSN: 0021-8464; 1563-518X; 1545-5823
• DOI: 10.1080/00218469708015219

Wetting on ambient, heterogeneous surfaces is characterized by contact angle hysteresis. Quantitative models of contact angle hysteresis are essential in order to design surfaces with specific wetting behavior or to interpret experiments seeking to characterize a surface through its wetting properties. We focus on the successes and failures of theoretical models as well as experiments on model surfaces in describing contact angle hysteresis on ambient surfaces. We describe experimental observations of contact line structure and dynamics as well as contact angle hysteresis on laboratory surfaces. We discuss three general classes of models treating one-dimensional periodic heterogeneity, two-dimensional periodic heterogeneity, and random heterogeneity. We show where these models succeed and where they fail to agree quantitatively and qualitatively with experimental observations. New models treating strong, dense heterogeneity as well as temporal relaxation of contact angles in experimental environments need to be developed to provide quantitative descriptions of contact angle hysteresis on ambient surfaces.