Cracking in Drying Colloidal Films

Singh, Karnail B.; Tirumkudulu, Mahesh S.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.98.218302

Cited by 293 publications

(305 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…For a given coating thickness, thicker crack-free films were formed with larger NPs (Figure 3) likely due to a smaller capillary stress imposed during the drying process. 14,40 These results emphasize that the thickness of the deposition layer and particle size are important control parameters for optimizing the assembly of thick crack-free films. While thicknesses should be kept as small as possible to construct thick crack-free NPFs, reducing the deposition thickness will require more depositions, which in turn consumes more time and material in fabricating the desired thick crack-free film.…”

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confidence: 86%

Avoiding Cracks in Nanoparticle Films

et al. 2012

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A new method utilizing subsequent depositions of thin crack-free nanoparticle layers is demonstrated to avoid the formation of cracks within silica nanoparticle films. Using this method, films can be assembled with thicknesses exceeding the critical cracking values. Explanation of this observed phenomenon is hypothesized to mainly arise from chemical bond formation between neighboring silica nanoparticles. Application of this method for fabricating crack-free functional structures is demonstrated by producing crack-free Bragg reflectors that exhibit structural color.

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confidence: 86%

Avoiding Cracks in Nanoparticle Films

et al. 2012

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“…Colloidal films typically crack during drying due to tensile stresses that increase with increasing film thickness and decreasing particle size. [58][59][60] The stresses that develop due to capillary forces are relieved by fracture of the material, and hence, the morphology of the cracks depends on both the direction of the stress and the local tensile strength of the film. Consequently, for shape anisotropic particles, the orientation of the particles strongly affects the local tensile strength.…”

Section: Optical Properties Of the Filmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electric Field‐Directed Convective Assembly of Ellipsoidal Colloidal Particles to Create Optically and Mechanically Anisotropic Thin Films

Mittal

Furst

2009

Adv Funct Materials

130

122

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A method of simultaneous field‐ and flow‐directed assembly of anisotropic titania (TiO2) nanoparticle films from a colloidal suspension is presented. Titania particles are oriented by an alternating (ac) electric field as they simultaneously advect towards a drying front due to evaporation of the solvent. At high field frequencies (ν > ∼25 kHz) and field strengths (E > 300 V cm−1), the particles orient with their major axis along the field direction. As the front recedes, a uniform film with thicknesses of 1–10 µm is deposited on the substrate. The films exhibit a large birefringence (Δn ≈ 0.15) and high packing fraction (ϕ = 0.75 ± 0.08), due to the orientation of the particles. When the frequency is lowered, the particle orientation undergoes a parallel–random–perpendicular transition with respect to the field direction. The orientation dependence on field frequency and strength is explained by the polarizability of ellipsoidal particles using an interfacial polarization model. Particle orientation in the films also leads to anisotropic mechanical properties, which are manifested in their cracking patterns. In all, it is demonstrated that the field‐directed assembly of anisotropic particles provides a powerful means for tailoring nanoparticle film properties in situ during the deposition process.

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“…12,14,17,18 Above this critical thickness, mud cracks or craquelures appear. The nucleation of those cracks has been seldom studied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

From craquelures to spiral crack patterns: influence of layer thickness on the crack patterns induced by desiccation

2011

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As a film of dispersed colloidal particles consolidates by desiccation on a rigid substrate, enormous stresses develop. Most of the time, these stresses exceed the strength of the material causing crack formation. Although undesirable in most industrial cases, crack patterns exhibit a useful method to characterize paintings. Indeed, crack patterns are the signature of the particles, solvent and substrate type, the drying conditions and the film thickness. Here we focus on the influence of this last parameter on the final crack morphologies. In particular, using a colloidal dispersion with transparency properties, we observe that craquelures, delamination and spiral crack morphologies can be obtained by changing only the film thickness. An extensive description of the formation dynamics and final geometry of each pattern is presented, highlighting the key geometric parameters that may easily be used by a broad audience, including the mechanical engineering, physics, chemistry, geology and art communities.

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Cracking in Drying Colloidal Films

Cited by 293 publications

References 18 publications

Avoiding Cracks in Nanoparticle Films

Avoiding Cracks in Nanoparticle Films

Electric Field‐Directed Convective Assembly of Ellipsoidal Colloidal Particles to Create Optically and Mechanically Anisotropic Thin Films

From craquelures to spiral crack patterns: influence of layer thickness on the crack patterns induced by desiccation

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