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Accurate Determination of the Equilibrium Surface Tension Values with Area Perturbation Tests
Published on: August 30, 2019
A theory for the surface tensions and contact angles of hydrogen-bonding liquids
Robert David1, A Wilhelm Neumann
11145 Boundary Rd. W, Pembroke, Ontario K8A 7T9, Canada.
Abstract:
The surface tensions of non-hydrogen-bonding, organic liquids can be accurately calculated from their electromagnetic properties, using an approximate form of the Lifshitz theory. A simple extension of this approach to the calculation of the surface tensions of hydrogen-bonding liquids is proposed. It is shown that the higher surface tensions of hydrogen-bonding liquids can be accounted for, with reasonable accuracy, by the increase in dispersion due to the shortened distance of approach between hydrogen-bonded atoms. Similar considerations allow calculations of contact angles on several low-energy solid surfaces in terms of molecular and electromagnetic properties. In accordance with well-known experimental observations, the calculated contact angles of both hydrogen-bonding and non-hydrogen-bonding liquids on the same low-energy surface nearly follow a single, smooth pattern.
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