Ordering of spontaneously formed buckles on planar surfaces

This paper describes the spontaneous formation of patterns of aligned buckl es in a thin film of gold deposited on the surface of an elastomer [poly(di methylsiloxane), PDMS]. The surface of the elastomer is patterned photochem ically into areas differing in stiffness and coefficient of thermal expansi on. The gold is deposited while the surface of the patterned elastomer is w arm (T similar to 100 degrees C). On cooling, shrinkage in the elastomer pl aces the gold film under compressive stress. The buckles relieve this compr essive stress. The distribution of stresses and buckle patterns is describe d during the pre- and postbuckling regimes using solutions from calculation s describing a model comprising a thin stiff plate resting on a thick elast ic foundation.