Investigation of surface deformation during drying of thin polymer films due to Marangoni convection

► In situ reconstruction of surface deformation of transparent polymer films. ► Long-range instability due to composite substrate with different material properties. ► Interaction between short- and long-range Marangoni instability. ► Influence of drying kinetics on surface deformation due to inhomogeneous support of latent heat. ► Evaluation of driving forces by 1D simulation of non-isothermal drying.