Lattice Boltzmann simulations of stochastic thin film dewetting

Abstract
We study numerically the effect of thermal fluctuations and of variable fluid-substrate interactions on the spontaneous dewetting of thin liquid films. To this aim, we use a recently developed lattice Boltzmann method for thin liquid film flows, equipped with a properly devised stochastic term. While it is known that thermal fluctuations yield shorter rupture times, we show that this is a general feature of hydrophilic substrates, irrespective of the contact angle $\theta$. The ratio between deterministic and stochastic rupture times, though, decreases with $\theta$. Finally, we discuss the case of fluctuating thin film dewetting on chemically patterned substrates and its dependence on the form of the wettability gradients.
Anno
2021
Tipo pubblicazione
Altri Autori
S. Zitz, A. Scagliarini, J. Harting
Editore
Published by the American Physical Society through the American Institute of Physics,
Rivista
Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics (Print)