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Fingering instability of thin evaporating liquid films
A V Lyushnin1, A A Golovin, L M Pismen
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|February 28, 2002
Summary
Growing dry patches in evaporating polar liquid films exhibit fingering instability. This phenomenon, driven by evaporation and substrate properties, creates distinct wet and dry regions, impacting film dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Fluid dynamics
- Surface science
- Materials science
Background:
- Evaporating thin films exhibit complex behaviors.
- Fingering instability is observed in various fluid systems.
- Polar liquids and substrate interactions influence film morphology.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the fingering instability in evaporating polar liquid films.
- Analyze the formation of dry patches and wet regions.
- Determine the factors influencing the instability boundaries.
Main Methods:
- Linear stability analysis.
- Numerical solutions of nonlinear evolution equations.
- Modeling of film profile dynamics.
Main Results:
- Identified fingering instability in growing dry patches.
- Characterized the mobile fronts between wet and dry regions.
- Quantified the influence of evaporation rate, intermolecular forces, and substrate heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- Fingering instability is a key feature of evaporating polar liquid films.
- Evaporation rate, intermolecular forces, and substrate properties control instability.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for predicting film behavior.