Figure 2.

Different phases of the droplet deposition process. The immediate impact happens on the time-scale of a few microseconds. Inertial forces dominate, but viscosity and surface energy synergistically prevent splashing. After the impact, the drop may or may not undergo oscillations in shape. There usually is some further spreading, meaning that the contact line moves outwards. If the contact line in the final state is pinned, the droplet radius eventually stays constant. Otherwise, the droplet will shrink in diameter. Droplet drying may occur within less than a second. This was adapted from Reference [26] and slightly modified to include drying and the time range accessible to the QCM.