Production of Optically Thin Free-Standing Oil Films from the Edge of a Rotating Disc

摘要

A method is described for forming thin free-standing oil films which are spun from the edge of a sharp-edged rotating disc. The films can be made thin enough to show strong optical interference colors when viewed in white light. The thinnest films have areal densities down to about 10 to 20 mu gm/cm exp 2 . A stable roughly triangular film with an area of about 10 cm exp 2 and fairly uniform thickness can be readily produced. Much larger films having either greater thickness or less stability are also possible. Films have been produced both in air and in vacuum. (ERA citation 06:001254)