Abstract
Anisotropically wetting substrates enable useful control of droplet behavior across a range of applications. Usually, these involve chemically or physically patterning the substrate surface, or applying gradients in properties like temperature or electrical field. Here, we show that a flat, stretched, uniform soft substrate also exhibits asymmetric wetting, both in terms of how droplets slide and in their static shape. Droplet dynamics are strongly affected by stretch: Glycerol droplets on silicone substrates with a 23% stretch slide 67% faster in the direction parallel to the applied stretch than in the perpendicular direction. Contrary to classical wetting theory, static droplets in equilibrium appear elongated, oriented parallel to the stretch direction. Both effects arise from droplet-induced deformations of the substrate near the contact line. Show more
Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Physical Review LettersVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
American Physical SocietyOrganisational unit
09573 - Dufresne, Eric / Dufresne, Eric
Funding
172827 - Hydrogel adhesion at small scales (SNF)
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