Engineering Science and Materials Commons^™

Study Of Leading Factors In Formation Of Surface Wavy Structures On A Rubber Material, Fang-Tzu Chuang

Fang-Tzu Chuang

Wavy structures are often observed on the surface of a rubber material (polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS) covered with a thin metallic film. In this study we demonstrate that the orientation, periodicity, location of formation, and range of periodicity of the wavy structures can be regulated by three leading factors including the surface pattern, substrate hardness and the thickness of the metallic film. Results show the orientation of the wavy structures can be adjusted by the location, shape and size of the surface patterns. Enhancement of the substrate hardness can prevent forming random wavy structures. The thickness of surface metallic film significantly influenced …