Microscale Transport Processes and Interfacial Force Field Characterization in Micro-cooling Devices

The enhancement of transport rates due to the smaller length scales, transfer areas and high surface to volume ratio in miniature devices are explored along with the evaluation of additional shape-dependent forces at small length scales. The thickness of the adsorbed film, apparent contact angles and the curvature profiles of the evaporating film and the contact line velocities of the oscillating thin liquid film on silicon and high refractive index glass surfaces are accurately measured using image analyzing interferometry. The measurements are consistent with previous models describing fluid flow and heat transfer in thin liquid films based on interfacial concepts. The oscillating velocities of the thin film and the contact angle variations accurately capture the forward and backward motion of the film during oscillation.