Nucleate boiling is an efficient mode of heat transfer from immersed surfaces 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The results of this work encourage further investigation into non-linear stability theory to consolidate the role of the surface on the liquid-vapor interface during the film collapse process. This helped assess the influence of surface roughness on the disruption of the film.

Lastly, the dynamic film thickness was quantified by analysis of the X-ray images. The X-ray images were synchronized with a second high-speed visible light camera and two thermocouples to provide insight into the film formation and film collapse processes. These results were obtained by implementing high-speed X-ray imaging of the film collapse on a heated sphere submerged in liquid-water. In this work, we provide visual evidence for two key mechanisms governing the film collapse: the interfacial instability, and the nucleation of vapor upon multiple non-terminal liquid-solid contacts. The interfacial instability alone, however, is insufficient to explain the known influence of the surface on the film collapse process. The collapse of this film has been canonically theorized to occur from an interfacial instability between the liquid and vapor phases.

The Leidenfrost layer is characterized by an insulating vapor film between a heated surface and an ambient liquid.

Diff bet x ray film speed