DYNAMICS OF LIQUID RIM INSTABILITIES

We estimate the relaxation times of the varicose modes of a liquid rim deposited on a flat solid surface, which have been found to be unstable below a wave vector q(c). We find (a) a purely viscous regime (for highly viscous liquids and small contact angles) and (b) a viscoinertial regime in the opposit limit. In our dewetting experiments, we do observe instabilities of moving rims, especially when they are thin. Polymer liquids usually give broad rims which are nearly stable.