stable film, metastable film

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05901
A
film
often thins gradually to a thickness at which it either ruptures or converts abruptly to an
equilibrium
. Rupture under these conditions characterizes
unstable
films, whereas transition to an
equilibrium
characterizes (meta)
stable
films.
Source:
PAC, 1972, 31, 577. (Manual of Symbols and Terminology for Physicochemical Quantities and Units, Appendix II: Definitions, Terminology and Symbols in Colloid and Surface Chemistry) on page 614 [Terms] [Paper]