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Fabrication of slender elastic shells by the coating of curved surfaces

Author

Listed:
  • A. Lee

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • P. -T. Brun

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • J. Marthelot

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • G. Balestra

    (Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Instabilities, EPFL)

  • F. Gallaire

    (Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Instabilities, EPFL)

  • P. M. Reis

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Various manufacturing techniques exist to produce double-curvature shells, including injection, rotational and blow molding, as well as dip coating. However, these industrial processes are typically geared for mass production and are not directly applicable to laboratory research settings, where adaptable, inexpensive and predictable prototyping tools are desirable. Here, we study the rapid fabrication of hemispherical elastic shells by coating a curved surface with a polymer solution that yields a nearly uniform shell, upon polymerization of the resulting thin film. We experimentally characterize how the curing of the polymer affects its drainage dynamics and eventually selects the shell thickness. The coating process is then rationalized through a theoretical analysis that predicts the final thickness, in quantitative agreement with experiments and numerical simulations of the lubrication flow field. This robust fabrication framework should be invaluable for future studies on the mechanics of thin elastic shells and their intrinsic geometric nonlinearities.

Suggested Citation

  • A. Lee & P. -T. Brun & J. Marthelot & G. Balestra & F. Gallaire & P. M. Reis, 2016. "Fabrication of slender elastic shells by the coating of curved surfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11155
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11155
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    Cited by:

    1. Rutvik Lathia & Satchit Nagpal & Chandantaru Dey Modak & Satyarthi Mishra & Deepak Sharma & Bheema Sankar Reddy & Pavan Nukala & Ramray Bhat & Prosenjit Sen, 2023. "Tunable encapsulation of sessile droplets with solid and liquid shells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Casey Bartlett & Alexandros T. Oratis & Matthieu Santin & James C. Bird, 2023. "Universal non-monotonic drainage in large bare viscous bubbles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-7, December.

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