Liquid dewetting under a thin elastic film

TL;DR

This paper investigates how a thin elastic film influences the dewetting behavior of liquid films, revealing that tension and boundary conditions can control hole shape and stability.

Contribution

It introduces the effects of elastic tension and boundary conditions on liquid film dewetting, enabling control over hole morphology.

Findings

Increased tension slows hole growth rate.

Boundary conditions affect hole shape and stability.

Biaxial tension leads to elongated or square holes.

Abstract

We study the dewetting of liquid films capped by a thin elastomeric layer. When the tension in the elastomer is isotropic, circular holes grow at a rate which decreases with increasing tension. The morphology of holes and rim stability can be controlled by changing the boundary conditions and tension in the capping film. When the capping film is prepared with a biaxial tension, holes form with a non-circular shape elongated along the high tension axis. With suitable choice of elastic boundary conditions, samples can even be designed such that square holes appear.