Soft contact: measurement and interpretation of contact angles

TLDR

Contact angle measurement and interpretation are deceptively simple, yet require a solid theoretical foundation and recent developments to be accurate. The paper aims to summarize pitfalls in contact angle measurement and suggest ways to avoid them, while identifying gaps for future research. The authors present practical implications derived from the theoretical aspects of contact angle measurement.

Abstract

The measurement and interpretation of contact angles deceptively appear to be simple. This paper attempts to summarize the pitfalls in the field, and how to avoid them. First, the fundamental underlying theory that is necessary in order to properly measure and interpret contact angles is discussed, emphasizing recent developments. Then, the practical implications of these theoretical aspects are presented. In addition, the discussion highlights the missing pieces of the picture that need to be completed through future research.