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Self-Propelled Droplet Removal from Hydrophobic Fiber-Based Coalescers

Kungang Zhang, Fangjie Liu, Adam J. Williams, Xiaopeng Qu, James J. Feng, and Chuan-Hua Chen
Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 074502 – Published 14 August 2015
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Abstract

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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  • Received 30 November 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.074502

© 2015 American Physical Society

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Self-Removing Droplets

Published 14 August 2015

Liquid droplets that gather on a fine, water-repelling fiber kick themselves off the fiber as they coalesce.

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Authors & Affiliations

Kungang Zhang1, Fangjie Liu1, Adam J. Williams1, Xiaopeng Qu1, James J. Feng2,3, and Chuan-Hua Chen1,*

  • 1Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
  • 2Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z2
  • 3Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3

  • *chuanhua.chen@duke.edu

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Issue

Vol. 115, Iss. 7 — 14 August 2015

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