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Anomalous spreading with Marangoni flow on agar gel surfaces
Yoshimune Nonomura1, Shigeki Chida, Eri Seino
1Department of Biochemical Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, 4-3-16 Jonan, Yonezawa 992-8510, Japan. nonoy@yz.yamagata-u.ac.jp
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|January 28, 2012
Summary
Aqueous alcohol solutions exhibit anomalous spreading on agar gel surfaces. Surface roughness and Marangoni flow dynamics significantly influence liquid spreading behavior, deviating from established laws.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Surface Science
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Tanner's law describes liquid spreading on surfaces.
- Marangoni flow, driven by surface tension gradients, affects liquid dynamics.
- Fractal surfaces introduce complex topographical features.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate anomalous spreading of aqueous alcohol solutions.
- Compare spreading dynamics on flat versus fractal agar gel surfaces.
- Analyze the influence of Marangoni flow and surface roughness on spreading.
Main Methods:
- Experimental observation of liquid spreading.
- Use of aqueous 1-propanol solutions.
- Characterization of spreading on flat and fractal agar gel surfaces.
Main Results:
- Observed anomalous spreading (θ(D)(t) ∝ t(-0.92)) on flat surfaces with >9 wt% 1-propanol, exceeding Tanner's law.
- Identified different spreading dynamics (θ(D)(t) ∝ t(-0.58)) on fractal surfaces.
- Marangoni flow was present on both surface types, but spreading differed.
Conclusions:
- Spreading dynamics are surface-dependent.
- Competition between Marangoni flow and surface roughness pinning dictates spreading.
- Anomalous spreading deviates from conventional models due to these competing factors.
