Elasticity Vs Capillarity, Or How Better To Control Wetting On Soft Materials

The spreading of liquids on solid surfaces is of considerable interest and importance in many fields of activity. When inks, paints or varnishes are applied, they must wet their substrates before solidifying (by evaporation of the solvent or dispersion medium, curing or cooling). Similarly when applying a polymeric adhesive or in the manufacture of composite materials, adequate spreading is required to ensure good contact between two phases. Wetting also plays an important role in such techniques as spin casting, a process much used for producing thin films necessary in the electronics industry, and in many tribological applications.