Nucleation radius and growth of a liquid meniscus

We consider a horizontal solid plate P placed above the free surface of a liquid L separated by a layer of air of thickness e (similar to 0.1 mm). With suitable P/L pairs this layer of air is metastable for thicknesses e below a certain limit e(c)(similar to 1 mm). We have found a way of setting up bridges connecting the liquid surface with the plate in a controlled way (axisymmetric meniscus of horizontal radius R). The meniscus grows if R is above a certain threshold R-c(e). If R < R-c the meniscus shrinks to zero. Our method allows precise measurements of R-c(e): We were able to do this using silicone oils and two types of plates P (with different contact angles). Our results are in good agreement with classical calculations by G. I. Taylor and E. Michael (J. Fluid Mech. 58, 625 (1973)). Furthermore, When R > R-c(e), we find that R grows linearly with time t and that dR/dt proportional to e(-0.7)(1-(e/e(c))(2)). (C) 1997 Academic Press.