Self-Propelled Droplet Removal from Hydrophobic Fiber-Based Coalescers.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Fiber-based coalescers are widely used to accumulate droplets from aerosols and emulsions, where the accumulated droplets are typically removed by gravity or shear. This Letter reports self-propelled removal of drops from a hydrophobic fiber, where the surface energy released upon drop coalescence overcomes the drop-fiber adhesion, producing spontaneous departure that would not occur on a flat substrate of the same contact angle. The self-removal takes place above a threshold drop-to-fiber radius ratio, and the departure speed is close to the capillary-inertial velocity at large radius ratios.

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Duke Authors

Chen, Chuan-Hua

Cited Authors

Zhang, K; Liu, F; Williams, AJ; Qu, X; Feng, JJ; Chen, C-H

Published Date

August 2015

Published In

Physical Review Letters

Volume / Issue

115 / 7

Start / End Page

074502 -

PubMed ID

26317724

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

1079-7114

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0031-9007

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1103/physrevlett.115.074502

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