MOTION OF THIN WETTING LIQUID-FILMS IN THE PRESENCE OF SURFACE CHEMICAL-REACTIONS

The dynamics of a very thin wetting liquid film which partly covers a solid surface, is theoretically investigated. It is assumed that the bare part of the surface hosts a strong heat-producing chemical reaction which induces evaporation of the film near its contact line. The interplay between the local evaporation and the molecular forces, applied at the contact line and tending to spread the film over the surface, determines the film motion. The velocity and the profile of the moving film are found and their dependence on the parameters of the system is discussed.