The spreading and dynamics of thin fluid films

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A revolution is currently occurring in the miniaturization of fluid mechanical devices. Just as shrinking the scale of computers has led to complete changes in lifestyles, working practices and global economies within a human generation, similar developments are occurring in the realm of small scale devices that involve the flow of one or more fluids. Many of these developments are driven by medical, biochemical, bioanalytical, nanoliter scale chemical reaction engineering, and microfluidic "lab-on-a-chip"devices. Still others find their motivation in the development of advanced materials, such as superhydrophobic and patterned surfaces with unique wetting, electrical and material properties, self-assembled materials that acquire their structure as a result of non-hydrodynamic forces, and so-called 'complex fluids': colloids, polymer solutions, and particulate suspension, that involve what is often counter-intuitive fluid mechanical behavior. These devices and applications are implemented at very small length scales and require a level of accurate manipulation and control of fluids that is unusual in larger scale applications.