First- and second-order wetting transitions at liquid-vapor interfaces

Wetting transitions, in which one liquid wets, or spreads at, the interface between a second liquid and their common vapor, are defined and first- and second-order transitions are distinguished. The mean-field density-functional models of fluid interfaces are recalled. A criterion is noted for deter...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Faraday discussions 2010-01, Vol.146, p.217-222
Main Authors: Koga, K, Indekeu, J. O, Widom, B
Format: Article
Language:English
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Wetting transitions, in which one liquid wets, or spreads at, the interface between a second liquid and their common vapor, are defined and first- and second-order transitions are distinguished. The mean-field density-functional models of fluid interfaces are recalled. A criterion is noted for determining when the wetting transitions in those models are required to be of first order or may be of second order. It is seen how two examples of such density-functional models that have been treated in the past, one leading to a first-order and the other to a second-order wetting transition, provide examples of the application of the criterion.
ISSN:1359-6640
1364-5498
DOI:10.1039/b925671g