https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2006-10057-5
Regular Article
Dewetting of thin polymer films
Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie Théorique, UMR CNRS 7083, ESPCI, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
* e-mail: thomas.vilmin@gmail.com
Received:
4
July
2006
Accepted:
9
November
2006
Published online:
5
December
2006
We study the dewetting of thin polymer films deposited on slippery substrate. Recent experiments on these systems have revealed many unexpected features. We develop here a model that takes into account the rheological properties of polymer melts, focussing on two dewetting geometries (the receding of a straight edge, and the opening of a hole). We show that the friction law associated with the slippage between the film and the substrate has a direct influence on the dewetting dynamic. In addition, we demonstrate that residual stresses, which can be stored in the films due to their viscoelasticity, are a source of destabilization for polymer films, and accelerate the dewetting process.
PACS: 68.60.-p Physical properties of thin films, nonelectronic – / 68.15.+e Liquid thin films – / 68.55.-a Thin film structure and morphology – / 83.10.-y Fundamentals and theoretical –
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag, 2006
