Characteristic angles in the wetting of an angular region: Surface shape

The shape of a liquid surface bounded by an acute or obtuse planar angular sector is considered by using classical analysis methods. For acute angular sectors the two principal curvatures are of the order of the (fixed) mean curvature. But for obtuse sectors, the principal curvatures both diverge as the vertex is approached. The power law divergence becomes stronger with increasing opening angle. Possible implications of this contrasting behavior are suggested. Received 1 February 2001 and Received in final form 14 August 2001