Dynamics of Dewetting Fronts: to Pinch or not to Pinch
Please login to view abstract download link
Thin films on hydrophobic surfaces undergo spinodal dewetting and form dry holes with moving contact lines at the solid-liquid interface. The opening of the dry holes takes place through an advancing front which accumulates liquid in a growing ridge, leaving behind a very thin precursor film. Here we report a numerical study of the dynamics of this advancing ridge, and the resulting morphology of the dewetted film. The effect of wall slip on the monotonic, oscillatory, or pinching ridge evolution are investigated.