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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...

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Laser Micromachining for Polymer Surface Topography Design

Laser Micromachining for Polymer Surface Topography Design

Published on: September 19, 2025

Measuring contact angle and meniscus shape with a reflected laser beam.

T F Eibach¹, D Fell¹, H Nguyen¹

¹Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany.

The Review of Scientific Instruments

|February 13, 2014

Summary

This study introduces a novel laser-based method for accurately measuring contact angles on moving liquid surfaces. The technique reconstructs meniscus shape from reflected laser patterns, overcoming prior imaging limitations.

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Characterization of Surface Modifications by White Light Interferometry: Applications in Ion Sputtering, Laser Ablation, and Tribology Experiments

Characterization of Surface Modifications by White Light Interferometry: Applications in Ion Sputtering, Laser Ablation, and Tribology Experiments

Published on: February 27, 2013

Area of Science:

Surface science
Fluid dynamics
Optical measurement techniques

Background:

Traditional side-view imaging of contact angles is limited by focusing difficulties on extended planar surfaces and moving contact lines.
Accurate measurement of contact angles is crucial for understanding surface wettability and fluid behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and validate a new optical technique for precise contact angle measurement on moving liquid interfaces.
To overcome the limitations of conventional imaging methods for dynamic contact angle determination.

Main Methods:

A widened laser sheet is inclined to the liquid surface, and its reflection from the meniscus is captured.
A mesh divides the laser sheet into rays, allowing reconstruction of the meniscus shape from the reflected image.
The method was validated by measuring receding contact angles on a rotating cylinder with varying speeds.

Main Results:

The technique successfully captures detailed information about the meniscus shape from reflected laser patterns.
Accurate receding contact angle measurements were obtained for aqueous solutions on different surfaces (hydrophobized and rough polystyrene).
The method demonstrates reliability for dynamic contact angle measurements under varying conditions.

Conclusions:

The developed laser reflection technique provides a robust solution for measuring contact angles on moving liquid surfaces.
This method offers improved accuracy and applicability compared to traditional side-view imaging, particularly for dynamic systems.
The validated technique has potential applications in various fields requiring precise surface tension and wettability analysis.