Derivation of generalized Young’s equation for cylindrical droplets between the outer surfaces of two tangent cylinders

Abstract

The wetting properties of cylindrical droplets between the outer surfaces of two tangent cylinders are investigated by means of thermodynamics. For the three-phase system containing solid, liquid and vapor phases, a generalized Young equation for contact angles of cylindrical drops between the outer surfaces of two tangent cylinders has been thermodynamically derived. In fact, the theoretical foundation of the derived generalized Young’s equation is based on Gibbs’s capillary phenomena and the method of Rusanov’s dividing line.