Effect of Asymmetry on the Contact Time of Droplet Impact on Superhydrophobic Cylindrical Surfaces

Reducing the contact time during the droplet impact on the surface is crucial for anti-icing, self-cleaning, and heat transfer optimization applications. This study aims to minimize the contact time by modifying the surface curvature to create an asymmetric impact process. Our experiments showed that the increase in Weber numbers (We) and the decrease in the ratio of surface diameter to droplet diameter (D*) intensify the asymmetry of the impact process, yielding four distinct rebound modes. Low asymmetry observes the liquid retract toward the central point (Rebound Modes 1 and 2), whereas high asymmetry yields a wing-like rebound (Rebound Modes 3 and 4). In Rebound Mode 1, increased asymmetry would lead to more extended contact due to the prolonged waiting period. Conversely, the reduction in contact time in Rebound Mode 2 occurs due to increased asymmetry with no waiting period. For Rebound Modes 3 and 4, the retraction time could be divided into three stages, generated by two liquid detachment modes from the surface. Analysis reveals that an increased asymmetry would reduce the retraction time during the first stage but prolong it during the third stage, with no significant effects on the second. Four correlations, each pertaining to a distinct impact mode, are proposed based on these analyses to describe the contact time concerning We and D* for droplets impacting a superhydrophobic cylindrical surface. © 2023 American Chemical Society.