Sintering of Two Drops of Model Fluids

Sintering of various model fluids has been studied. 3 PDMS, 2 polybutenes and 4 Boger fluids were employed. The rheological properties of the 9 fluids have been studied. Measurements of the surface tension of these fluids have been done thanks to sessile drop method. The effects of viscosity, elasticity and surface tension have been explored on two substrates. Experimental data were compared to a physical model based on Maxwell constitutive equations. The viscosity is the main factor that acts against the sintering. We observed that the interfacial tension between the fluid and the substrate plays a non negligible role on the sintering kinetics.