OFFSET COALESCENCE BEHAVIOR OF IMPACTING LOW-SURFACE TENSION DROPLET ON HIGH-SURFACE-TENSION DROPLET

The impact of droplets of varying surface tension and subsequent spreading over a solid surface are inherent features in printing applications. In this regard, an experimental study of the impact of two drops of varied surface tension is carried out where the sessile water droplet on a hydrophilic substrate is impacted upon by another droplet of sequentially lowered surface tension. The impacts are studied for different impact velocities and offsets with respect to the mid-plane of the two colliding droplets. Sodium dodecyl sulfate is used to: (i) alter the surface tension without altering the viscosity, (ii) study the various parameters affecting the spreading length viz. the surface tension, (iii) offset between the drops, and (iv) impact velocity. The spreading lengths are obtained through image processing of the captured footage of the impact dynamics by a high -speed camera. It is found out that upon lowering the surface tension, the maximum and equilibrium spreading length varies to a significant extent, and the nature of the spreading dynamics changes. Both side- and top -view imaging are performed to understand the overall hydrodynamics. There is also a substantial change in "drawback" when dissimilarity in surface tension between the impacting droplets exists. Finally, a fit model is obtained to predict the maximum spread length of the various cases.