Dynamics of Hole Growth in Dewetting Polystyrene Films
Date
2004
Authors
Neto, Chiara
Jacobs, Karin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
We describe experiments, based on optical and atomic force microscopy, aimed at characterising the growth of nucleated holes in polystyrene films. Circular nucleated holes develop upon dewetting in thick films, and they grow uniformly with time until coalescence with neighbouring holes occurs. Their growth rate follows a model that includes viscous dissipation in the rim and slippage on the substrate. Under certain conditions, however, nucleated holes in very thin films grow uniformly only up to a certain threshold value, beyond which a cascade pattern called "satellite holes" is observed. This pattern is the result of the interplay between the disjoining and Laplace pressure.
Description
Keywords
Keywords: Atomic force microscopy; Coalescence; Dynamics; Energy dissipation; Heat treatment; Laplace transforms; Lubricants; Polystyrenes; Stiction; Thin films; Viscous flow; Wetting; Dewetting; Nucleated holes; Satellite holes; Structure formation; Thin polymer f AFM; Dewetting; Structure formation; Thin polymer films
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Source
Physica A: Statistical mechanics and its applications
Type
Journal article