Interpretation of contact angle hysteresis

Abstract

Hysteresis of the contact angle, i.e. the difference between the advancing and receding contact angles, is discussed in terms of the liquid film presence behind the drop when it has receded. It is shown that values of receding contact angles in many systems result from a well-defined free energy balance in the solid/liquid drop system. If a duplex film is present behind the drop, experimental receding contact angles up to 15° may be considered as lying in the range of the experimental error. In the case of low-energy solids (e.g. Teflon), it is possible to determine graphically the minimum value of the surface tension below which a liquid will leave a duplex film behind the drop when receding. © 1993, VSP. All rights reserved.