Conceptual aspects of line tensions

Details Conceptual aspects of line tensions Conceptual aspects of line tensions

2007-03-30

arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0703821v1

Physics

Condensed Matter

Soft Condensed Matter

34 pages, 9 figures

Scientific paper

10.1063/1.2799990

We analyze two representative systems containing a three-phase-contact line: a liquid lens at a fluid--fluid interface and a liquid drop in contact with a gas phase residing on a solid substrate. We discuss to which extent the decomposition of the grand canonical free energy of such systems into volume, surface, and line contributions is unique in spite of the freedom one has in positioning the Gibbs dividing interfaces. In the case of a lens it is found that the line tension is independent of arbitrary choices of the Gibbs dividing interfaces. In the case of a drop, however, one arrives at two different possible definitions of the line tension. One of them corresponds seamlessly to that applicable to the lens. The line tension defined this way turns out to be independent of choices of the Gibbs dividing interfaces. In the case of the second definition,however, the line tension does depend on the choice of the Gibbs dividing interfaces. We provide equations for the equilibrium contact angles which are form-invariant with respect to notional shifts of dividing interfaces which only change the description of the system. Conceptual consistency requires to introduce additional stiffness constants attributed to the line. We show how these constants transform as a function of the relative displacements of the dividing interfaces. The dependences of the contact angles on lens or drop volumes do not render the line tension alone but a combination of the line tension, the Tolman length, and the stiffness constants of the line.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Conceptual aspects of line tensions does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Conceptual aspects of line tensions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Conceptual aspects of line tensions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-650680