A model for a spreading and melting droplet on a heated substrate (Q2706090)

The authors present a model which describes simultaneous spreading and melting of an initially spherical solid droplet. The model contains a moving contact line, a moving trijunction, and an internal solid-liquid boundary in a nonisothermal setting. The key physical parameter is the ratio between characteristic velocities of contact line and of melting process. The authors find that, in the spreading and melting configuration, the contact line is less mobile and the contact angle tends to relax faster compared to the isothermal liquid spreading case. Additionally, the authors show that the increase in spreading promotes melting.