# Relation between surface tension and viscous forces during thin film formation in a microchannel

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Hi guys,

I am trying to study (understand) thin film formations on micro channel wall surfaces. In a recent paper published:

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/IJLRDA/hal-01312931v1, ; (From the paper text in quotes.)

" Film thickness is governed by the balance between surface tension and viscous stresses. As the former tends to minimize the interface curvature and pushes the droplet interface closer to the wall, the latter tends to open up the gap between the droplet and the wall."

I am not able to understand how come surface tension minimize interface curvature (this means it increases radius of drop but in reality surface tension tends to minimize the surface area of contact, therefore it tends to relax to a circle/ sphere).

Can anyone help me understand things better. Thanks!!

recategorized Oct 6, 2016

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