Wetting dynamics of complex fluids

 

Wetting of a rigid (solid) surface by fluids is a ubiquitous phenomenon. It is fundamental to inkjet printing, application of spray coatings, paintings etc. The dynamic wetting characteristics are characterized by relationship between the contact angle (θ) and contact line velocity (U) (forced wetting) or between spreading radius of a drop (R) and spreading time (t) in spontaneous wetting. Our interest lies in investigating the plethora of dynamic wetting behaviour exhibited by complex fluids (liquid crystals, polymers, polyelectrolytes and colloidal suspensions).