Droplets Sit and Slide Anisotropically on Soft, Stretched Substrates

Anisotropically wetting substrates enable useful control of droplet behavior across a range applications. Usually, these involve chemically or physically patterning the substrate surface, applying gradients in properties like temperature electrical field. Here, we show that flat, stretched, uniform soft also exhibits asymmetric wetting, both terms how droplets slide and their static shape. Droplet dynamics are strongly affected by stretch: glycerol on silicone with 23\% stretch 67\% faster direction parallel to applied than perpendicular direction. Contrary classical theory, equilibrium appear elongated, oriented Both effects arise from droplet-induced deformations near contact line.