Friction in capillary systems

Abstract
A new macroscopic one‐parameter model of static solid‐liquid friction in capillary systems is developed. The basic idea is a generalization of the phenomenology of solid‐solid friction. The theory considers that the shear frictional force is created by an increase in work of adhesion caused by the deformation of the liquid meniscus just before the onset of liquid motion. The theory contains only one parameter, the ‘‘frictional angle’’ ξ, characteristic of a given solid surface and independent of the nature of the liquid. We have derived a functional relationship, parametrized by ξ, between friction and equilibrium contact angle. The model is in excellent agreement with experiments.

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