Thermocapillary deformations of a spot-heated self-rewetting liquid layer

Thermocapillary deformations of horizontal self-rewetting layer of liquid (solution of 1-butanol of 5% concentration in water) when heated from a localized hot spot were studied experimentally. Measurements of the liquid layer deformations were performed using the confocal techniques with three-dimensional positioning system having high-speed linear actuator. Effect of equalizing the profile of the liquid surface over the heating area has been observed before the layer breakdown. The potential interest of the proposed studies induces by the large number of possible industrial applications, including space technologies and terrestrial applications, such as cooling of electronic components.