Rodica Borcia¹, Michael Bestehorn²

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.6, No.1, pp. 1-12, 2010, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2010.006.001

Abstract We study numerically the fully nonlinear evolution of thin liquid films on solid supports in three spatial dimensions. A phase field model is used as mathematical tool. Homogeneous and inhomogeneous substrates are taken into account. For flat homogeneous substrates the stability of thin liquid layers is investigated under the action of gravity. The coarsening process at the solid boundary can be controlled on inhomogeneous substrates. On substrates chemically patterned in an adequate way with hydrophobic and hydrophilic spots (functional surfaces), one can obtain stable regular liquid droplets as final dewetted morphology. More >

Rodica Borcia^1,2, Michael Bestehorn²

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.3, No.4, pp. 287-294, 2007, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2007.003.287

Abstract We developed a phase field model for Marangoni convection in compressible fluids of van der Waals type far from criticality. The theoretical description is based on the Navier-Stokes equation with extra terms responsible for describing the Marangoni effect, the classical heat equation, and the continuity equation. The model previously developed for a two-layer geometry is now extended to drops and bubbles. Finally, we report on 2D numerical simulations for drop Marangoni migration in a vertical temperature gradient. More >