Theoretical Analysis of Liquid Bridge Formation between Two Particles

Bridge formation by ideal pure water

Abstract

To make clear the mechanism of liquid bridge formation, profiles of a bridge formed by ideal pure water between two identical spherical particles were analyzed theoretically by applying the Kelvin equation for zero contact angle. It was found that the profiles of liquid bridges could be expressed as functions of surrounding humidity, properties of the liquid, particle diameter and other variables. It was also found that the neck diameter of a water bridge formed by the Kelvin effect was very small (less than 100 nm). Microscope observation of the profiles of water bridges formed between two convex glass lenses and two glass beads which were left in a thermohygrostat supported this analysis, and, at the same time, observation sug-gested that a very small amount of soluble impurity contained in the bridge might have a significant effect on bridge formation.