Wrinkling is observed in our everyday life such as on a crumpled piece of paper, on a hanging curtain, or even on your skin. Understanding the mechanism of wrinkling and how it can be controlled to change surface properties is crucial for applications such as adhesive surfaces and microelectronics. In this image, polystyrene is attached on a patterned polydimethylsiloxane substrate and wrinkled thermally. The diameter of the pattern is 200 μm, which is slightly thicker than a human hair. Because the pattern on the substrate controls the distribution of stress, the wrinkles can be directed radially around the hole.
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