From adhesion to wetting of a soft particle

Abstract

Using a thermodynamical approach, we calculate the deformation of a spherical elastic particle placed on a rigid substrate, under zero external load, and including an ingredient of importance in soft matter: the interfacial tension of the cap. In a first part, we limit the study to small deformation. In contrast with previous works, we obtain an expression for the energy that precisely contains the JKR and Young-Dupré asymptotic regimes, and which establishes a continuous bridge between them. In a second part, we consider the large deformation case, which is relevant for future comparison with numerical simulations and experiments on very soft materials. Using a fruitful analogy with fracture mechanics, we derive the exact energy of the problem and thus obtain the equilibrium state for any given choice of physical parameters.

Accepted for publication in Soft Matter

References in corpus (3)

• Static wetting on deformable substrates, from liquids to soft solids
• Capillary Pressure and Contact Line Force on a Soft Solid
• Dynamics of elastocapillary rise

Cited by in corpus (11)

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• Indentation of a Rigid Sphere into an Elastic Substrate with Surface Tension and Adhesion
• Yield stress and elasticity influence on surface tension measurements
• Soft particles at a fluid interface
• Adhesion Induced Instabilities and Pattern Formation in Thin Films of Elastomers and Gels
• Interfacial tension and a three-phase generalized self-consistent theory of non-dilute soft composite solids
• Strain-dependent solid surface stress and the stiffness of soft contacts
• Elasto-capillary interaction of particles on the surfaces of ultra-soft gels: a novel route to study self-assembly and soft lubrication