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Contact Angle

Contact Angle

When a solid is dipped inside a liquid, the liquid surface becomes curved near the contact. For some solid–liquid interfaces, the liquid is pulled up along the solid, while for others, the liquid surface is convex or depressed near the solid surface. This phenomenon can be explained using the concept of cohesive and adhesive forces.
The adhesive force is the molecular force between molecules of different materials, that is, between the molecules of the solid and the liquid. The cohesive force...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Metal Surfaces for Anti-Icing Applications

Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Metal Surfaces for Anti-Icing Applications

Published on: August 15, 2018

Contact angle hysteresis on fluoropolymer surfaces.

H Tavana¹, D Jehnichen, K Grundke

¹Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's, College Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G8.

Advances in Colloid and Interface Science

|June 1, 2007

Summary

Contact angle hysteresis in fluoropolymers depends on polymer chain configuration and liquid properties. Amorphous polymers with flexible chains exhibit higher hysteresis due to liquid sorption and chain reorganization.

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Area of Science:

Surface Science
Polymer Science
Wettability Studies

Background:

Contact angle hysteresis is a critical parameter in surface characterization.
Understanding hysteresis mechanisms is vital for predicting liquid-solid interactions.
Fluoropolymers offer unique surface properties relevant to various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate contact angle hysteresis on fluoropolymer films.
To correlate hysteresis with polymer chain configuration and liquid properties.
To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of contact angle hysteresis.

Main Methods:

Studied contact angle hysteresis using n-alkanes and other probe liquids.
Examined high-quality films of four different fluoropolymers.
Analyzed the influence of polymer chain structure (amorphous vs. ordered, stiff vs. flexible) and liquid properties.

Main Results:

Hysteresis strongly correlates with polymer chain configuration; amorphous polymers show higher hysteresis than ordered ones.
Liquid sorption and penetration into polymer films explain hysteresis with n-alkanes.
Teflon AF 1600 (stiff chains) showed time-independent receding angles and low hysteresis, attributed to liquid molecule retention.
EGC-1700 (flexible chains) exhibited time-dependent receding angles and high hysteresis, especially with dipolar liquids, suggesting chain reorganization.
Contact angles were independent of drop front velocity for low-viscosity liquids up to 10 mm/min.

Conclusions:

Fluoropolymer chain configuration significantly impacts contact angle hysteresis.
Mechanisms include liquid sorption, penetration, retention, and polymer chain reorganization.
Liquid properties, such as molecular size and intermolecular forces, play a crucial role.