The spreading of a microscopic nonvolatile liquid drop on a homogeneous solid substrate has been studied by molecular dynamics simulations of Lennard-Jones systems. The substrate is assumed to be continuous without atomic structure and exerting a long-range Lennard-Jones potential on liquid particles in the drop. A molecular precursor film is observed to spread initially with nearly constant speed, crossing over later to diffusive spreading. These results are compared with recent molecular dynamics results of a volatile liquid on a structured substrate.

• Received 19 February 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.69.124