Relation of the Three-Phase Line to Surface Deformation

It is known that the three-phase contact line induces a surface deformation that can be observed as a ‘pulling up' of the surface for soft materials¹. In this presentation, surfaces with high elastic modulus are shown to experience some deformation, which is expressed as a breakage of nanostructures on the surface. This time-dependent phenomenon is associated with an increase in the retention force at the solid-liquid interface.

1. Carré, A., Gastel, J-C., & Shanahan, M. E. R., Nature 379, 432 (1996)