Dynamic contact angle for etting of a surface by a van der Waals fluid

We consider the creeping motion of a thin layer of a nonvolatile viscous fluid spreading due to capillary forces over a rigid surface covered by a thin homogeneous film (microfilm). The influence of van der Waals forces on the asymptotic slope of the free boundary of the layer is studied in the region of large thickness, where capillary forces dominate. A solution of the problem of the slope angle is obtained for the entire possible range of the microfilm thickness. In the limit of small thickness of the microfilm, this solution is in agreement with the well-known solution of the problem of the dynamics of wetting of a dry surface in the presence of a precursory film and van der Waals forces. The role of the condition at the end of the precursory film is studied.