Kinetically engendered sub-spinodal length scales in spontaneous dewetting of thin liquid films

Abstract

Numerical simulations of spontaneous dewetting of non-slipping, variable viscosity unstable thin liquid films on homogeneous substrates reveal the existence of sub-spinodal lengthscales through formation of satellite holes, a marker of nucleated dewetting and/or heterogeneous substrates, in the late stages of dewetting if the liquid viscosity decreases continually with decreasing film thickness. These films also show established signatures of slipping films such as faster rupture and flatter morphologies in the early stages even without invoking any slippage.