Steady-states of thin film droplets on chemically heterogeneous substrates

Abstract: We study steady-state thin films on a chemically heterogeneous substrates of finite size, subject to no-flux boundary conditions. Based on the structure of the bifurcation diagram, we classify the one-dimensional steady-state solutions that exist on such substrates into six different branches and develop asymptotic estimates for the steady-states on each branch. We show using perturbation expansions, that leading order solutions provide good predictions of the steady-state thin films on stepwise-patterned substrates. The analysis in one dimension can be extended to axisymmetric solutions. We also examine the influence of the wettability contrast on linear stability and dynamics. Results are also applied to describe two-dimensional droplets on hydrophilic square patches and striped regions used in microfluidic applications.