Reduced Wettability of Solids by a Liquid Ga–In–Sn Alloy in a Steady Magnetic Field

Abstract

Wettability of solids by liquid metals plays an important role in numerous technological processes. In this work, the effect of a steady magnetic field (SMF) on the wettability of copper and silica substrates by a Ga−In−Sn liquid alloy was investigated using the sessile drop technique. It was found that the contact angles on both substrates increased with increasing SMF intensity. The reduced wettability can be attributed to a change in liquid surface tension under the action of an SMF. In combination with the equations of state, the increase of the contact angle with the SMF intensity is predicted, which is in reasonable agreement with experimental results.

Critical Review on the Physical Properties of Gallium-Based Liquid Metals and Selected Pathways for Their Alteration

“…Despite the temperature and composition of the liquid metal, copious other parameters affect the liquids’ and liquid metals’ surface tension. Important parameters are curvature (size effect), surface oxidation, , adsorption of molecules and ions, and electrochemical approaches. , Little known and employed effects on the surface tension of liquid metals are exerted by pressure and standing waves, and suggested for steady magnetic fields, in line with the alteration of the surface tension of heavy water . In the following subsections, we concentrate on introducing the major effects discussed and employed in the literature concerned with liquid metals.…”

Magnetowetting dynamics of sessile ferrofluid droplets: a review

“…The proposed relation (eqn ( 14)), showing a decrease in the solid-liquid surface tension with an increase in the magnetic field strength, is, however, contrary to the scenario of a liquid metalmetal substrate pair in a magnetic field. 113,114 Lee et al 100 argued that a decrease in the g ls further directed the contactangle dynamics to lower values. As such, the contact angle of the elongated drop was found to decrease initially up to a field strength of 150 G, beyond which it started to increase, which was similar to the observations of Guba et al 106 Beyond H 4 150 G, the contact-angle dynamics were dominated by shape deformation, despite the continuous reduction of g ls at higher field strengths.…”

Surface Chemistry of Gallium-Based Liquid Metals

“…32 On the contrary, the magnetic field will reduce the wettability of liquid metals. 39 The underlying mechanism remains to be clarified. One hypothesis posits that the poor wettability originates from the change of two-particle distribution function of liquid metals.…”

“…41 Recently, researchers discovered that the wettability of liquid metals may be related to the changes in viscosity under the magnetic field. 39 Generally, the contact angle equation under the magnetic field can be written as…”