• Energy use is very inefficient
• Approx. 60% rejected mostly in the form of waste heat
• Low melting point metals are promising for applications in thermal energy management, conversion, and storag

Casias, John D

Davis, Ethan Allan

Ndao, Sidy

English

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln
UCARE Research Products UCARE: Undergraduate Creative Activities &Research Experiences
4-2016
Development of a Robust Setup for the Study of
Wetting Characteristics of Low Melting Point
Metals
John D. Casias
University of Nebraska - Lincoln, john.casias@huskers.unl.edu
Ethan Allan Davis
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ethan.davis@huskers.unl.edu
Sidy Ndao
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, sndao2@unl.edu
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Casias, John D.; Davis, Ethan Allan; and Ndao, Sidy, "Development of a Robust Setup for the Study of Wetting Characteristics of Low
Melting Point Metals" (2016). UCARE Research Products. 95.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ucareresearch/95
John Casias, Ethan Davis, Sidy Ndao 
Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
University of Nebraska – Lincoln, http://nmrl.unl.edu 
Development of  a Robust Setup for the Study of Wetting Characteristics of Low Melting Point 
Metals
Motivation Experimental Equipment
Acknowledgements
This work has been supported by
Rame-Hart Model 250 Goniometer
Preliminary Results and Future WorkLow Melting Point Metals
• High thermal conductivity
• Low melting temperature
• Good electrical conductivity
• Small volume expansion during phase change
• High boiling point
• Large latent heat of phase change
• Energy use is very inefficient
• Approx. 60% rejected mostly in the 
form of waste heat
• Low melting point metals are promising for 
applications in thermal energy management, 
conversion, and storage
MBRAUN LABstar Glove Box
Above: Energy use in the US for the year 2013. The 
figure shows approximately 60% of energy is rejected. 
Retrieved from: www.llnl.gov/missions/energy 
Liu, T.; Sen, P.; Kim, C. J. Characterization of Nontoxic Liquid-Metal 
Alloy Galinstan for Applications in Microdevices. J. 
Microelectromechanical Syst. 2012, 21, 443–450.
Appealing Properties
Results
• Contact angle of Galinstan on silicon is 
~145° above 30°C regardless of 
temperature
Adverse Characteristics
• Oxidize readily at > 1 ppm oxygen
• Must be handled in inert environment
Rame-Hart Elevated 
Temperature Syringe Rame-Hart Hot Plate
• Provides an 
elevated sample 
temperature up 
to 300° C 
• Can be cooled 
to well below 
ambient 
temperature
• Provides an elevated 
temperature up to 300° C
• Fluid may be dispensed at a 
temperature equivalent to the 
sample surface
• Reduces the temperature 
gradient across the droplet
• Inert gas environment
• 𝑂2 levels < 0.5 ppm
• 𝐻2𝑂 levels < 0.5 ppm
• Pressure control
• Measures
• Contact angle
• Surface tension
• Adjustable stage
Future Work
• Contact angles of Galinstan below ambient
• Various substrate materials
Tungsten, Pyrex, Tantalum, etc.
• Various low melting point metals.
Gallium, Indium, Tin, Bismuth alloys


Development of a Robust Setup for the Study of Wetting Characteristics of Low Melting Point Metals

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1099&context=ucareresearch

Development of a Robust Setup for the Study of Wetting Characteristics of Low Melting Point Metals

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