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Ripples Induced by Capillary Rise on a Spherical Particle in a Film of Drying Polymer Solution.

Gabrielle Di Mauro¹, Alice Etienne-Simonetti², Bertrand Heurtefeu³

¹CNRS, Surface du Verre et Interfaces, Saint-Gobain, 93300 Aubervilliers, France.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids

|March 14, 2025

Summary

Capillary rise in drying polymer films forms a visco-capillary ripple, whose dynamics match lubrication theory with an effective time. A secondary ripple correlates with meniscus volume, indicating flow-driven polymer accumulation.

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Area of Science:

Fluid dynamics
Materials science
Surface science

Background:

Capillary rise is a fundamental phenomenon in fluid mechanics.
Drying processes in polymer solutions involve complex fluid flow and material deposition.
Understanding the interplay between capillary forces and drying kinetics is crucial for material processing.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the fluid dynamics during capillary rise in a drying polymer solution film.
To characterize the formation and dynamics of ripples observed during this process.
To correlate ripple characteristics with drying-induced changes in the polymer film and meniscus.

Main Methods:

Experimental setup involving a glass sphere in contact with a drying polymer solution film.
Observation and analysis of visco-capillary ripple formation and propagation.
Application of lubrication theory to model ripple dynamics, incorporating an effective time parameter.
Correlation analysis between secondary ripple amplitude and meniscus volume.

Main Results:

A visco-capillary ripple forms initially and propagates until it solidifies.
The ripple's dynamics and final position align with lubrication theory predictions when an effective time is used.
A secondary ripple emerges at later stages, with its amplitude dependent on the meniscus volume.
Evidence suggests secondary ripple formation is driven by flows within the drying meniscus.

Conclusions:

The study elucidates the dynamics of capillary rise in drying polymer films.
Lubrication theory, with modifications for drying effects, accurately describes early-time ripple behavior.
Late-time ripple formation is linked to meniscus-driven flows and leads to polymer accumulation.