Wenzel

State
S a ra P ra da
A ria dna Ya ñe z
G e ra rdo M e dina
Definition

The relationship between roughness

and wettability was defined in 1936
b y Wenzel who stated that adding
surface roughness will increase the
wettab ility caused b y the chemistry of
the surface.

This method is used to describe

a surface in which d rop lets penetrate
the rough structures.
Characteristics
• A n a l y z e th e r ou g h n e ss -
c on ta c t a n g l e e ffe c t.

• E x p l a i n s e x p e r i me n ta l
ob se r v a ti on s on
r ou g h n e ss.

• A ssu me s a v e r y sma l l
r ou g h n e ss sc a l e .

• C on si d e r a si n g l e c on ta c t
angle
The Wenzel equation is supposed to
give the relationship between the
apparent and intrinsic contact
angles.

Is an approximation that becomes

more accurate as the drop becomes
larger compared to the scale of the
roughness.
References

M, S. ( 2012, 10 octub re) . Theory and

Simulation of Ang ular Hy steresis in
Sessile Drop lets. Facultad d e Ciencias,
Salamanca. Recup erad o 4 d e feb rero
de 2022, d e
https://g tfe.usal.es /p d fs /tesis /tesisCh
us.p d f