Wetting transition of water on graphite and other surfaces

Original · EN

A wetting transition occurs when the contact angle of a liquid drop on a surface changes from a nonzero value to zero. Such a transition has never been observed for water on any solid surface. This paper discusses the value of the temperature Tw at which the transition should occur for water on graphite. A simple model, previously used for nonpolar fluids, predicts the value of Tw as a function of the well-depth D of the adsorption potential. While D is not well known for the case of water/graphite, the model implies that Tw is likely to fall in the range 350 to 500 K. Experimental search for this transition is warranted. Water wetting transition temperatures on other surfaces are also discussed.