Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Droplet Evaporation on Heated Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Surfaces

The evaporation characteristics of sessile droplets on heated hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces are investigated. Results are reported for the evaporation of water droplet volumes covering a range of shapes dominated by surface tension or gravity and over a range of temperatures between 40 and 60 °C. The weight evolution and total time of evaporation is measured using a novel self-contained heating stage on a high resolution analytical balance, which has advantages over visualization measurement techniques as it allows free choice of the initial droplet size and surface and the ability to record the droplet evaporation right through to the final stages of droplet life. Evaporation is modeled through a combination of a constant contact area and a constant contact angle model with the switch from the former to the latter occurring when the contact angle falls below its predetermined receding value. Theoretical results compare well with the experimental results for the hydrophobic substrate. However, a significant deviation is observed for the hydrophilic substrate due to the combined effects of the droplet surface cooling due to evaporation and buoyancy effects that are not included in the model. The proposed method of using the stick–slip model offers a convenient means of modeling droplet evaporation by mimicking the drying modes based on initial measurements of the static and receding contact angles.