The 25 peer-reviewed and edited papers in this volume derive from the Third International Symposium on Contact Angle, Wettability and Adhesion, held in Providence, RI, in May 2002 to update and consolidate recent research activity on this topic of broad technological importance. A brief sampling of topics addressed includes: analysis of the contact line region; wetting of porous media; contact angle hysteresis; spreading, reversible wetting and dewetting; wetting of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs); effects of adsorbed vapor on adhesion; wetting by nanocrystallites; and much more. The information contained in this (and the previous two volumes) should serve as a fountainhead for future research ideas and practical applications.

From the Preface: “...Even a cursory look at the literature will evince that there is a brisk research activity apropos of contact angle and wettability from both fundamental and applied points of view. The world of wettability is very wide as it plays an extremely important role in a legion of technological areas...”

Target Audience: Researchers, technologists, and students interested in the many ramifications of contact angle and wettability.

Table of Contents:

General Papers:

Adsorption, Evaporation, Condensation, and Fluid Flow in the Contact Line Region

Experimental Study of Contact Line Dynamics by Capillary Rise and Fall

Condensation Transport in Triple Line Motion

Inertial Dewetting: Shocks and Surface Waves

Effect of Adsorbed Vapor on Liquid—Solid Adhesion

Contact Angle Measurements/Determination and Solid Surface Free Energy:

The Molecular Origin of Contact Angles in Terms of Different Combining Rules for Intermolecular Potentials

Contact Angle Measurements and Criteria for Surface Energetic Interpretation

Advancing, Receding and Vibrated Contact Angles on Rough Hydrophobic Surfaces

Dynamic Evolution of Contact Angle on Solid Substrates During Evaporation

The Concept, Characterization, Concerns and Consequences of Contact Angles in Solid—Liquid—Liquid Systems

A Thermodynamic Model for Wetting Free Energies of Solids from Contact Angles

Characterization of Surface Free Energies and Surface Chemistry of Solids

Wetting and Spreading — Fundamental and Applied Aspects:

Merging Two Concepts: Ultrahydrophobic Polymer Surfaces and Switchable Wettability

Self-Propelled Drop Movement: Chemical Influences on the Use of Kinetic or Equilibrium Approaches in Reactive Wetting

Effects of Surface Defect, Polycrystallinity and Nanostructure of Self-Assembled Monolayers on Wetting and Its Interpretation

Wetting of a Substrate by Nanocrystallites

Light-Induced Reversible Wetting of Structured Surfaces

Wetting in Porous Media: Some Theoretical and Practical Aspects

Dynamic Aspects of Wetting in Granular Matter

The Effect of Rock Surface Characteristics on Reservoir Wettability

Viscous Dissipation and Rheological Behavior Near the Solid/Liquid/Vapor Triple Line: Application to the Spreading of Silicone Oils

Adsorption Isotherms of Cationic Surfactants on Bitumen Films Studied Using Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis

Application of Droplet Dynamics Analysis for Assessment of Water Penetration Resistance of Coatings

Indirect Measurement of the Shrinkage Forces Acting During the Drying of a Paper Coating Layer

Effect of the Physical Chemistry of Polymeric Coating Surfaces on Fouling and Cleanability with Particular Reference to the Food Industry

Note: Contact Angle, Wettability and Adhesion, Vol. 2 is a predecessor to this volume.