The Physics of Microdroplets

<i>The Physics of Microdroplets</i> gives the reader the theoretical and numerical tools to understand, explain, calculate, and predict the often nonintuitive observed behavior of droplets in microsystems. <p>Microdrops and interfaces are now a common feature in most fluidic microsystems, from biology, to biotechnology, materials science, 3D-microelectronics, optofluidics, and mechatronics. On the other hand, the behavior of droplets and interfaces in today’s microsystems is complicated and involves complex 3D geometrical considerations. From a numerical standpoint, the treatment of interfaces separating different immiscible phases is difficult.</p> <p>After a chapter dedicated to the general theory of wetting, this practical book successively details:</p> <ul> <li>The theory of 3D liquid interfaces </li> <li>The formulas for volume and surface of sessile and pancake droplets</li> <li>The behavior of sessile droplets</li> <li>The behavior of droplets between tapered plates and in wedges </li> <li>The behavior of droplets in microchannels </li> <li>The effect of capillarity with the analysis of capillary rise </li> <li>The onset of spontaneous capillary flow in open microfluidic systems </li> <li>The interaction between droplets, like engulfment </li> <li> <p>The theory and application of electrowetting</p> </li> <li>The state of the art for the approach of 3D-microelectronics using capillary alignment </li> </ul>