EFFECTS OF DROP AND FILM VISCOSITY ON DROP IMPACTS ONTO THIN FILMS

While drop film impacts have been studied extensively in the past, little thought has been given towards separating the effects of the drop fluid properties from those of the film. Distinguishing between the behaviors resulting from characteristics of each independently could provide insight into the underlying physical phenomena with a clarity that is unavailable when the drop and the film consist of identical liquids. In this study, the viscosity is the central parameter varied in both drop and film liquid. Using water, aqueous glycerol mixtures, and Fluoroinert FC-72, a range of kinematic viscosity covering 3 orders of magnitude (4 x 10(-7) - 6.5 x 10(-4) m(2)/s) is examined; a smaller range of surface tension (0.024-0.072 N/m) is covered, as well. Drop impacts occur over a range of Weber numbers from 20 to 3000 and Reynolds numbers from 20 to 14000. Impact outcomes categorized are both formation of a crown and splashing from the crown. Criteria for each impact outcome are presented in light of both film and drop properties; certain outcomes are found to depend more strongly on either the properties of the drop or the film individually. Crown formation appears to relate more strongly to the film's properties, whereas crown splashing has some dependence on the drop properties. Existing splashing correlations are examined in light of the separation of properties.