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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Fast Imaging Technique to Study Drop Impact Dynamics of Non-Newtonian Fluids
Published on: March 5, 2014
Dynamics of non-Newtonian droplets
Denis Bartolo1, Arezki Boudaoud, Grégoire Narcy
1Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, PMMH, ESPCI, Paris 6, Paris 7, UMR CNRS 7636, 75231 Paris cedex 5, France.
Abstract:
We study the impact and subsequent retraction dynamics of aqueous liquid droplets upon high-speed impact on hydrophobic surfaces. Often a spectacular "rebound" of the droplet can be observed: after the impact and expansion, the drop retracts rapidly, leading to ejection of part of the material from the surface. We show how non-Newtonian flow properties can be used to slow down the retraction sufficiently to completely inhibit rebound. The slowing down is due to non-Newtonian normal stresses generated near the moving contact line of the droplet. We provide a quantitative theory for the slowing down, and show that the non-Newtonian effects profoundly change the contact line dynamics.
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