ON THE THEORY OF THE RUPTURE OF BLACK FILMS

The present work covers the solution of a problem on the fluctuation r upture of black films [Derjaguin, B. V., and Gutop, Yu. V., Kolloid. z h. 24, 431 (1962); Dokl. AN SSSR 153, 859 (1963); ''Research in Surfac e Forces,'' Vol. 2, p. 36. Consultants Bureau, New York, 19661, which is interpreted as a two-dimensional analog of the homogeneous boiling of fluid. Such a two-dimensional mechanism of rupture must be realized first of all for secondary black and lipid films. Using the solution of the stationary Kramers-Zeldovich equation as the basis, we have der ived a general expression for the probability of the isothermal ruptur e of a stretched film of the given area per unit time. The use of Gibb s Grand Ensemble [Derjaguin, B. V., Zh. eksp. teor. fis. 65, 2261 (197 3); J. Chem. Phys. 61, 3665 (1974)] enabled us to calculate accurately the preexponential factor in that expression. Criteria of the applica bility of the results obtained have been determined. A possibility is discussed for applying the abrupt dependence of the rupture probabilit y of a film on its linear tension, to the accurate measurement of the latter.