Abstract

Drying of a sessile drop of a complex liquid can lead to intriguing complex shapes. We report here a study dealing with a model system, made of a hydrosoluble polymer that is glassy when pure. Under solvent evaporation, polymers accumulate near the vapor/drop interface and may form a glassy skin, which bends as the volume of liquid it encloses decreases. The conditions for the occurrence of this buckling instability have been investigated; the experimental results are well explained by a model that compares the characteristic times for drying and for the formation of a glassy skin. Depending on the experimental conditions, different types of shape distortion take place; secondary instabilities that break the axisymmetry are also observed.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call