Modeling of a sessile droplet with the curvature dependence of surface tension

Authors: SERGO REKHVIASHVILI, ASLAN SOKUROV

Abstract: In this paper, using the Gibbs dividing surface method, the formula that determines the curvature-dependent surface tension in a system with two phases is deduced. The well-known Tolman formula is a special case for this formula. The problem of a sessile droplet is considered. The Bashforth-Adams equation analogue in view of the curvaturedependent surface tension is obtained and the numerical solution of the equation is carried out. We show that if the droplet size is not so large compared to the thickness of the surface layer (micro- or nanodroplets), the dependence of the surface tension on the curvature is very important.

Keywords: Sessile drop, surface tension, capillary pressure, Laplace equation, equilibrium capillary surface, size dependence, Tolman length, mean curvature, radius of curvature, nanodroplet

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