Evaporating droplets on inclined plant leaves and synthetic surfaces: Experiments and mathematical models

Evaporation of surfactant droplets on leaves is complicated due to the complex physical and chemical properties leaf surfaces. However, for certain surfaces which evaporation process appears follow standard constant-contact-radius or constant-contact-angle modes, it should be possible mimic droplet with both a well-chosen synthetic surface relatively simple mathematical model. Surfactant experiments were performed two commercial crop species, wheat capsicum, along surfaces, up 90° incline. The time-dependence droplets’ contact angles, height, volume radius was measured throughout experiments. Mathematical models developed simulate With one clear exception, all combinations concentrations appear modes are well described by (modified Popov Young–Laplace-Popov). exception high concentration, nonstandard deviates from diffusion limited models, perhaps additional mechanisms such as adsorption surfactant, stomatal density an elongated shape in direction grooves surface.