Capillary wave dynamics on supported viscoelastic films: Single and double layers

TL;DR

This paper investigates how viscoelasticity and interfacial slip influence capillary wave relaxation in supported films, explaining recent experimental observations through scaling and hydrodynamic theories.

Contribution

It introduces a combined scaling and hydrodynamic approach to analyze capillary wave dynamics in viscoelastic supported films, including double layers.

Findings

Wavelength-independent decay rate observed in experiments.

Viscoelasticity and slip significantly affect relaxation dynamics.

Theoretical results match recent experimental data.

Abstract

We study the capillary wave dynamics of a single viscoelastic supported film and of a double layer of immiscible viscoelastic supported films. Using both simple scaling arguments and a continuum hydrodynamic theory, we investigate the effects of viscoelasticity and interfacial slip on the relaxation dynamics of these capillary waves. Our results account for the recent observation of a wavelength-independent decay rate for capillary waves in a supported polystyrene/brominated polystyrene double layer [X. Hu {\em et al.}, Phys. Rev. E {\bf 74}, 010602 (R) (2006)].