US 6,982,787 B1
Modification of the degree of liquid contact with a solid by control of surface and micro-channel capillary geometry
Phillip G. Wapner, Palmdale, Calif. (US); and Wesley P. Hoffman, Palmdale, Calif. (US)
Assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. (US)
Filed on Jan. 02, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/340,381.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/344063, filed on Jan. 02, 2002.
Int. Cl. G01C 1/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 356—138 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transition included angle based method of predicting and controlling the wetting of a solid by a liquid comprising the steps of:
providing a solid having a surface geometry,
providing a liquid,
placing the liquid in contact with the solid,
measuring a transitional included angle formed between the solid and the liquid; and
specifying the surface geometry of the solid at least in part based upon the transitional included angle to achieve a desired degree of wetting of the solid by the liquid.