Modeling and Analyzing of Electrowetting Using Electromagnetic Body Force Density and Surface Tension

The understanding of the electrowetting phenomenon is essential way for the control of tiny droplets on dielectric material surfaces. From the conventional viewpoint, the shape of a droplet is determined by the contact angle which is influenced by the applied electric field. In this paper, we present a new approach to model and analyze the electrowetting phenomenon. It is based on the electromagnetic body force and surface tension as well as the initial contact angle. The pressures on the droplet surface are calculated using Kelvin´s formula, the hydrostatic equation, surface tension due to surface curvature and the volume constraint condition. The electrowetting phenomenon was successfully modeled and analyzed using the proposed approach. Numerical analysis results were in good accord with the experimental results.