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Related Concept Videos

Contact Angle01:13

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...
Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity02:57

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

Surface Tension
The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...
Surface Tension of Fluid01:22

Surface Tension of Fluid

Surface tension is a fundamental property of fluids, occurring at the boundary between a liquid and a gas or between two immiscible liquids. This phenomenon arises from the cohesive forces between molecules at the fluid's surface, creating an effect similar to a stretched elastic membrane. Inside each fluid, molecules are equally attracted in all directions by neighboring molecules, but surface molecules experience a net inward force, resulting in surface tension.
Surface tension varies with...
Surface Tension01:24

Surface Tension

Surface tension is defined as the force per unit length (γ) acting along the surface of a liquid. It arises due to strong intermolecular forces of attraction. A molecule located inside the bulk of the liquid is surrounded by other molecules and experiences equal forces in all directions. However, a molecule at the surface experiences unbalanced forces because there are more neighboring molecules below than above. This creates a net inward force that pulls surface molecules toward the interior,...
Capillarity in Fluid01:19

Capillarity in Fluid

Capillarity describes the movement of liquid in small spaces without external forces acting on it. The capillarity is driven by surface tension and adhesive interactions between the liquid and surrounding solid surfaces. This effect is often seen in narrow tubes, porous materials, and fine particles.
Surface tension is crucial to capillarity. It results from cohesive forces between liquid molecules at the liquid-air boundary, forming a skin that resists external forces. When the capillary tube...
Surface Tension and Surface Energy01:16

Surface Tension and Surface Energy

When a paint brush is immersed in water, the bristles wave freely inside the water. When it is taken out, the bristles stick together. The reason behind this effect is surface tension.
Consider a beaker filled with liquid. The bulk molecules in the liquid experience equal attractive forces on all sides with the surrounding molecules. However, the surface molecules experience a net attractive force downward due to the bulk molecules. The surface of the liquid behaves like a stretched membrane,...

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Surface Properties of Synthesized Nanoporous Carbon and Silica Matrices
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Surface Properties of Synthesized Nanoporous Carbon and Silica Matrices

Published on: March 27, 2019

Nanofluid surface wettability through asymptotic contact angle.

Saeid Vafaei1, Dongsheng Wen, Theodorian Borca-Tasciuc

  • 1School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|February 23, 2011
PubMed
Summary

The asymptotic contact angle quantifies nanofluid wettability by analyzing interfacial forces. This method reveals how nanoparticle size and concentration alter surface tensions and wetting behavior.

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Area of Science:

  • Surface Science
  • Nanofluids
  • Physical Chemistry

Background:

  • Surface wettability is crucial for nanofluid applications.
  • Quantifying wettability requires understanding interfacial forces.
  • Existing methods may be limited by droplet size dependence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Introduce the asymptotic contact angle as a wettability criterion for nanofluids.
  • Determine how nanofluid concentration and nanoparticle size affect solid surface tensions.
  • Evaluate the influence of substrate material on surface wettability.

Main Methods:

  • Derive the asymptotic contact angle by equating interfacial forces of axisymmetric and spherical droplets.
  • Apply the technique to bismuth telluride nanofluids.
  • Measure wettability variations with nanoparticle size, concentration, and substrate.

Main Results:

  • The asymptotic contact angle is independent of droplet size for ideal surfaces.
  • Nanofluid concentration, nanoparticle size, and substrate material modify gas-liquid and solid surface tensions.
  • These modifications impact the triple line force balance, contact angle, and overall surface wettability.

Conclusions:

  • The asymptotic contact angle provides a robust measure of nanofluid surface wettability.
  • Nanoparticle characteristics and substrate properties significantly influence nanofluid-surface interactions.
  • This criterion aids in predicting and controlling nanofluid behavior in various applications.