Mechanisms of fluid spreading: Ising model simulations

Mechanisms of fluid droplet spreading on atomically flat solids are studied using Monte Carlo lattice simulations with particle conservation. The early time nearly linear behavior of precursor spreading is observed to be dominated by the surface fluid flow on the bulk droplet to the solid. The late time nearly t1/2 behavior is mostly due to migration of section layer particles to the holes and the perimeter of the precursor. Also, the roles of initial contact angle and Hamaker constant of the fluid-substrate system are discussed.