Detection of Advancing Edge and Existing Length of Precursor Film Ahead Macroscopic Contact Line of Droplet Spreading on Solid Substrate

The author introduces a series of experimental studies on a simple but complex wetting process; a droplet spreads on a solid substrate. The spreading droplet on the solid substrate is accompanied with the movement of a visible boundary line so-called ‘macroscopic contact line.’ Existing studies have indicated there exits a thin liquid film known as ‘precursor film’ ahead the macroscopic contact line of the droplet. The present author’s group has dedicated their special effort to detect the advancing edge of the precursor film by applying a convectional laser interferometry and a high-speed camera, and to evaluate the spreading rate of the precursor film.