Breath Figures Formation

Abstract

We present experimental observations of Breath Figures (BF) which are formed by the dew of water when it condenses on a cold surface. The experiments were done in specific conditions and configurations of temperature, surfaces and mixes in controlled concentration of miscibles and immiscibles substances like the salt saturated solution, alcohol and silicon oil (C_6H_18O_2Si). The hydrophobic surfaces used on those observations are thin glasses coated with ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), 3M ECG-1700 which is repellent to the silicon oil too, and silane which is hydrophobic. Those observations let us to perform direct geometrical measurements of the droplets like radii r, areas a and with the values of contact angle θ the volume V that form the Breath Figures. Other indirect measurements obtained from the direct measurements are the factor occupation \epsilon^2, the values of concentration of water once it has condensed over a cold surface t_c^{−1}, and when it changes from liquid phase to solid phase and when the BF takes part in a process of deposition, also the fractal dimension of the BF pattern to characterize the geometrical properties in a liquid phase and solid phase. Once the average of direct measurements are obtained we extract laws of growth and the evolution of the phenomena a how outward factors modify the achievement of the process of condensation and what is the observable pattern result.