Electronic Journal of Differential Equations,
Vol. 2013 (2013), No. 202, pp. 1-22.

Title: Spreading of charged micro-droplets

Author: Joseph Iaia (Univ. of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA)

Abstract:
 We consider the spreading of a charged microdroplet on a flat dielectric
 surface whose spreading is driven by surface tension and electrostatic repulsion.
 This leads to a third order nonlinear partial differential equation that gives
 the evolution of the height profile. Assuming the droplets are circular we
 are able to prove existence of solutions with infinite contact angle and in
 many cases we are able to prove nonexistence of solutions with finite contact
 angle.

Submitted February 10, 2013. Published September 16, 2013.
Math Subject Classifications: 35B07, 35B09
Key Words: Spreading fluids; circular symmetry; charged droplets.