Application of Thin-layer Wicking Method for Surface Free Energy Determination. Issue 1 (13th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chibowski, Emil; Hołysz, Lucyna; Szcześ, Aleksandra
• Is Part Of: Surface innovations. Volume 5:Issue 1(2017:Mar.)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 43
• Publication Date: 2017-01-13
• Subjects: Surfaces (Technology) -- Periodicals; Surfaces (Physics) -- Periodicals; 620.44
• DOI: 10.1680/jsuin.16.00029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-6260

Abstract

Abstract : Determination of a solid surface free energy is still not fully solved problem. There are several approaches to calculate the energy from measured contact angles of probe liquids. The surface free energy changes are accompanying the all processes occurring at a solid surface. Therefore, the knowledge about these changes is very helpful for better understanding and prediction of their occurrence. In the case of a flat solid surface the contact angle measurement is principal method for the surface free energy determination, but many naturally occurring or artificial solids occur only as powders. In the case of such systems the thin-layer wicking method, originally proposed by van Oss et al. and further developed by Chibowski et al., is useful for determination of the surface free energy. The experimental methods for determination of a solid surface free energy bear some doubts and the obtained results may be debatable. Nevertheless, even the determined relative changes of the energy shed light on the investigated process helping in its handling. In this paper the theoretical fundamentals of the thin-layer wicking method as well as some practical guidelines are described. Moreover, literature data of the energy determination for some powdered solids and fabrics are reported.