Proceeding of 2018 IEEE International Conference on Current Trends toward Converging Technologies, Coimbatore, India
Study of Properties of Attraction of Water with
the Hydrophobic Surfaces
Ankit Pachouri
Dept. of Electronics & Communication
Chameli Devi Group of Institutions
Indore (M.P.), India
Vaidehivalbhacharya@gmail.com
Abstract—In this paper, characteristics of water with
the hydrophobic surfaces has been studied. According
to the present scenario, when water deals with any
surface then adhesive force acts between that surface
and water. If adhesive force is strong then, water is
absorbed by the surface but if adhesive force is weak
then water cannot be absorbed by the surface and
these types of surfaces are called hydrophobic
surfaces. It has been observed that when some water
drops fall on a hydrophobic surface and if the surface
is upside down then some droplets fall down but few of
them remain stick to the surface for a long time. Many
explanations have been given in this regard but due to
weak adhesive force, all the explanations seem to be
incomplete as weak adhesive force may not result in
the stickiness of the water droplet with the surface for
a long time. Here, it has been analyzed that along with
the adhesive force, a special type of cohesive force also
acting there. Thus, due to the presence of adhesive
force and this minor cohesive force, water drop
remain stick to the hydrophobic surface. Without this
special cohesive force, water droplets either slide or
fall down from the hydrophobic surface.
Keywords—adhesive force; cohesive force; hydrophobic
surface; hydrophilic surface; contact angle
I.INTRODUCTION
Following are the common terms used in given analysis-
Hydrophobic Surface
Hydrophobic surfaces are the surfaces which repel the
water and do not cause wetting. For example- plastic, wax
etc [1].
Hydrophilic Surface
Hydrophilic surfaces are the surfaces which attract the
water and cause wetting. For example- cotton, paper etc.
[2].
Adhesive Force
The adhesive force is the force of attraction between two
different types of molecules. For example the force of
attraction between molecules of solid substance and a
liquid [3, 7].
978-1-5386-3702-9/18/$31.00 © 2018 IEEE
Achala Sharma
Dept. of Commerce
Harda Degree College
Harda (M.P.), India
Achalasharma050607@gmail.com
Cohesive Force
The cohesive force is the force of attraction between same
types of molecules. For example- the force of attraction
between molecules of water [4].
Contact Angle
The contact angle (θ) of a liquid may be defined as the
phenomenon by which wetness of a liquid on another
surface can be studied [5]. When 0° < θ < 90° then the
effect the adhesive force is more in this condition water
wets the surface. When 90° ≤ θ ≤ 180° then the effect of
the cohesive force is more and in this condition, water
can't wet the surface and takes the shape of a droplet i.e.
droplet on a surface can be seen only if when there is the
weak adhesive force [6].
II.GENERAL OBSERVATION
It can be seen in the daily observation that on the
hydrophobic surfaces water droplet sticks and remain
undisturbed for a long time such as water droplets on wires
(can be easily observed in rainy season) and smooth
surfaces like tiles, polythene sheets etc. [7].
Explanation of above case is that- it is due to adhesive
force between surface and droplet [7]. However, the
adhesive force is very weak in this condition due to the
hydrophobic surface [6]. So, this explanation seems to be
incomplete i.e. there may be some other type of force
along with the adhesive force which gives strength to the
liquid droplet on the hydrophobic surface for remain Stick
undisturbed for a long time.
III.GENERAL ANALYSIS
When a water drop falls on a hydrophobic surface, due to
the surface characteristics, the contact angle is in range 90°
≤ θ ≤ 180° due to this, the adhesive force between the
surface and the Droplet is very weak [6]. As a result of
this, droplet slide over it and if the surface is upside down
then the droplet falls down because the weight of the
droplet is very large as compared to the adhesive force.
But, when the droplet falls, a layer of water remain stick to
the surface as shown in the “Fig. 1”. This layer is 'minor
droplet' or 'semi droplet' as contact angle on the
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 Proceeding of 2018 IEEE International Conference on Current Trends toward Converging Technologies, Coimbatore, India

hydrophobic surface forms a droplet [6]. This minor
droplet (water layer) is very small so, the adhesive force
between the surface and the droplet is strong enough to
keep the minor droplet stick to the surface.
If, again any water droplet slowly (with least disturbance)
falls on the same hydrophobic surface then this droplet
does not come in direct contact with the hydrophobic
surface as it gets attached with the minor droplet
(previous water layer) as shown in the “Fig. 2”.
Similarly, same characteristics are observed for different
hydrophobic surfaces when the same experiment is carried
out with them.
“Fig. 5” shows minor droplet on a tile piece which has the
hydrophobic surface. “Fig. 6” shows major droplet on
same tile piece.

Figure 2. Minor and major water droplets

Figure 1. Minor water droplet

Thus, this major droplet is able to stick to the surface

because along with the adhesive force (between minor
droplet and surface), cohesive force between minor droplet
and major (next) droplet is acting. Thus, total force acting,
in this case, is sum of adhesive force and cohesive force

IV.OBSERVATIONAL EVIDENCE

The Above fact can be verified by observing Figure 3. Minor droplet on the candle
characteristics of different hydrophobic surfaces. Here,
hydrophobic surfaces in upside down condition are “Fig. 7” and “Fig. 8” shows minor droplet and major
observed as shown in the following given figures because droplet on a wire cable respectively.
in this case, the effect of water on the hydrophobic surface
can be easily observed. Following hydrophobic surfaces “Fig. 9” and “Fig. 10” shows minor droplet and major
and their characteristics with water are observed - droplet on a plastic piece respectively.
“Fig. 3” shows that minor droplets are formed initially on
the candle when some water drops fall on it. These fallen
droplets cannot remain stick to the candle initially, and
thus after falling these droplets, minor droplets (thin
layers) are formed, as explained in given analysis.

“Fig. 4” shows that when again water drops fall on the

same candle (slowly with least disturbance) then these
drops (major droplets) remain stick to the candle. This
verifies given explanation that these droplets can stick to
candle because of the cohesive force (between minor
droplets and major droplets).

Thus, total force acting, in this case, is the sum of the Figure 4. Major droplet on the candle
adhesive force (between hydrophobic surface i.e. candle
and minor droplet) and the cohesive force (between the
minor droplet and the major droplet).

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Proceeding of 2018 IEEE International Conference on Current Trends toward Converging Technologies, Coimbatore, India
Figure 5. Minor droplet on the tile piece
Figure 6. Major droplet on the tile piece
Figure 7. Minor droplet on the wire
Figure 8. Major droplet on the wire
Figure 9. Minor droplet on the plastic piece
V.DISCUSSION
It has been observed in given experiments that if a droplet
remains stick to the hydrophobic surface then it never fall
down if any disturbance (such as- wind, sunlight, any type
of vibration etc.) does not occur around it. Beside of
falling down, the size of the water droplet continuously
decreases i.e. its contact angle continuously decreases (as
shown in the “Fig. 11”) and at last it becomes a thin
water layer and finally, it gets evaporate due to
atmospheric temperature. This is due to very strong
cohesive force between the minor droplet and the major
droplet. Due to this force, the major droplet can't fall
down and starts merging with the minor droplet and
finally becomes a thin water layer. This observation also
supports given analysis.
Figure 10. Major droplet on the plastic piece
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 Proceeding of 2018 IEEE International Conference on Current Trends toward Converging Technologies, Coimbatore, India

And from the discussion, it can be concluded that FC is so

strong that it can't let the water droplet to fall down.
Beside it, the size of the major droplet gets continuously
decreases and finally becomes a water layer.

VII.CONCLUSION

To sum up, it can be said that when a hydrophobic surface

deals with the water then a water droplet can stick to the
surface only if a minor droplet of water already present
there. Due to that minor droplet, a 'minor cohesive force'
acts on the major (next) droplet. Thus, the total force
[adhesive force (between the surface and minor droplet) +
minor cohesive force] keeps the water droplet remain stick
to the surface for a long time.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors would like to say thanks to Mr. K. Jairaj

(Dean, CDGI) and Mr. K. Srikant (R&D head, CDGI) for
their special support.

REFERENCES

[1]. A.D. Mc Naught and A. Wilkinson, “Hydrophobic,” in

Compendium of chemical terminology Gold Book,
version 2.3.3, Kansas, IUPAC, 2014, pp. 699.
[2]. A.D. Mc Naught and A. Wilkinson, “Hydrophilic” in
Compendium of chemical terminology Gold Book,
version 2.3.3, Kansas, IUPAC, 2014, pp. 699.
[3]. A.D. Mc Naught and A. Wilkinson, “Adhesional
wetting,” in Compendium of chemical terminology Gold
Figure 11. Decrement in size of a droplet Book, version 2.3.3, Kansas, IUPAC, 2014, pp. 38.
[4]. Bush, John W. M., "MIT lecture notes on surface
VI.RESULT tension, lecture 5"(PDF), Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 2004, Retrieved 2007.
By above analysis, it is clear that total force which keeps [5]. A.D. Mc Naught and A. Wilkinson, “Contact angle,” in
the water droplet remain stick to the hydrophobic surface Compendium of chemical terminology Gold Book,
is- version 2.3.3, Kansas, IUPAC, 2014, pp. 327.
FT = FA + FC [6]. Chiwoong Choi and Moohwan Kim (editor Amimul
Where- Ahsan), “Wettability effect on heat transfer,” Two phase
flow, Phase change and Numerical Modeling, Edited
FT = Total force which keeps major droplet remain stick to volume, Croatia, European Union: INTECH, 2011,
the surface. Ch.14, Sec.2.1, pp. 312-313.
FA = Adhesive force between the surface and minor [7]. K. Kendall, "Adhesion: molecules and mechanics" in
droplet. Science, vol. 263, 1994, pp. 1720-1725.
FC = Cohesive force between minor droplet and major
droplet.