Dynamics of wetting and phase separation

Abstract

The connection between the growth of a wetting layer and bulk phase separation is investigated in a liquid system undergoing spinodal decomposition. The wetting phase, which grows at the walls of the container, is found to be rippled and connected to the bulk, and layering of spatially anisotropic domains of the nonwetting phase is observed near the wall. Growth laws are determined and compared with a dimensional analysis of the Navier-Stokes equations.