Shear response of molecularly thin liquid films to an applied air stress

The shear response of molecularly thin liquid films on solid substrates whe n subjected to an applied air stress has been measured. The response corres ponds to viscous friction while the same films sheared between two solid su rfaces display static friction. These results show that molecularly thin li quid films partially confined by a single solid surface do not solidify as when confined between two solid surfaces. We are also able to observe sever al novel properties for liquid films on single solid surfaces not previousl y observed or expected.