SPINODAL DEWETTING IN LIQUID-CRYSTAL AND LIQUID-METAL FILMS

Theory predicts that dewetting of a homogeneous liquid film from a sol id surface may proceed via unstable surface waves on the Liquid. This phenomenon, usually termed spinodal dewetting, has been sought after i n many systems. Observations in liquid crystal and Liquid metal films showed that, as expected, the emerging structures were similar to thos e found for spinodal decomposition in mixtures. Certain differences, h owever, could be attributed to peculiarities of the wetting forces in these two dissimilar systems, thereby demonstrating the role of nonlin earities inherent in the wetting forces.