Effect of surfactant kinetics on the wetting following the drop impact onto rough surfaces

We experimentally analyze the effect of a surfactant on wetting following drop impact on rough surfaces, paying special attention to the role of dynamic surface tension.

To this end, we compare the results obtained with Triton X-100, SDS, and Surfynol 465.

For concentrations below the critical micelle concentration $c_{\textin{cmc}}$, the evolution of the coverage area is nearly identical for all three surfactants, suggesting that the surfactant concentration is too low to significantly influence droplet spreading.

In contrast, pronounced differences emerge due to the distinct dynamic surface tensions of the surfactants at $c/c_{\textin{cmc}}=2$.

The evolution of the coverage area during spreading is nearly the same for pure water droplets and those containing Surfynol 465, indicating that surfactant depletion is negligible during the rapid spreading stage.

As the Weber number increases, droplet spreading becomes progressively less sensitive to surface tension, thereby reducing the influence of surfactant adsorption kinetics.

Nevertheless, Surfynol 465 produces larger coverage areas than Triton X-100 and SDS.

The final coverage area is governed by the quasi-static recession of the triple contact line, which is controlled by the receding contact angle.

Surfynol 465 consistently yields substantially larger final coverage areas across the range of surface roughness considered in this study.