Characteristic lengths at moving contact lines for a perfectly wetting fluid: the influence of speed on the dynamic contact angle

Abstract

It is common to relate the dynamic contact angle ${\theta }_d$ to the relative speed between the substrate and the contact line; theory suggests ${\theta }_d^3\propto U$. In fact, available physical models show that the dynamic angle involves speed logarithmically and in a model dependent manner. Experimental data consistent with this interpretation is cited.