Quasi-logarithmic spacing law in dewetting patterns from the drying meniscus of a polymer solution

TL;DR

This paper investigates the formation of periodic patterns in a drying polymer solution meniscus, revealing a quasi-logarithmic spacing law driven by contact line stick-slip dynamics, supported by a proposed evaporation-based model.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quasi-logarithmic spacing law in dewetting patterns and a model explaining the contact line dynamics during evaporation.

Findings

Discovery of a quasi-logarithmic spacing relation in patterns

Identification of stick-slip motion as the pattern formation mechanism

Development of a model based on meniscus evaporation dynamics

Abstract

We report on a periodic precipitation pattern emerged from a drying meniscus via evaporation of a polystyrene solution in a Petri dish. It appeared a quasi-logarithmic spacing relation in the pattern as a result of stick-slip motion of the contact line towards the wall. A model based on the dynamics of the evaporating meniscus is proposed.