Thin liquid wetting films

This paper presents an overview of the studies on thin liquid wetting films reported in the literature during the last 5 years. We begin with a description of the most used experimental techniques for the determination of the disjoining pressure and the film thickness. Then, the state-of-art of the surface forces acting in a non-symmetrical film and of the mechanisms of film rupture is presented. Finally, the most relevant results obtained with films of different liquids, including solutions of electrolytes, polymers and bio-molecules, as well as lubricants and liquid crystals, are reviewed.Major recent advancesThe most recent advances in the area of thin liquid wetting films involve the study of the stability conditions of films obtained from complex fluids, such as polymer solutions, lubricants, liquid crystals, and the modification of the solid surface to control the film stability.

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