Experimental results of dewetting in the visco-gravitational regime

Dewetting of liquid films is experimentally studied. A dry patch is produced on a liquid film of controlled thickness. Its increasing radius is measured as a function of time and leads to a constant dewetting velocity which depends on the film thickness. The viscosity and the static contact angle are varied using different liquids. The systems are chosen to avoid inertial effects. The results are compared with a simple model taking into account the balance between viscous and driving (capillary and gravitational) forces, finding a very good agreement. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.