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Published on: November 9, 2015
Solid-liquid-liquid wettability and its prediction with surface free energy models.
A Stammitti-Scarpone1, E J Acosta1
1Dept. Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada.
Predicting solid-liquid-liquid wettability is crucial for many applications. This study extends surface free energy models, finding the extended Equation-of-State (e-EQS) method effectively predicts wettability across various solid surfaces and conditions.
Area of Science:
- Surface Science
- Materials Science
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Wettability in solid-liquid-liquid (SLL) systems is vital for diverse industrial applications.
- Predicting SLL wetting behavior on smooth surfaces remains a significant challenge.
- Existing models for solid-liquid-air (SLA) systems require adaptation for SLL scenarios.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and evaluate methods for predicting SLL wettability.
- To adapt existing surface free energy models for SLL systems.
- To determine SLL wettability on various materials and correlate with model predictions.
Main Methods:
- Reviewed existing solid surface free energy data from SLA contact angle measurements.
- Determined SLL wettability using the inverted sessile drop method for toluene on glass, mica, stainless steel, and PTFE in Toluene-water-isopropyl alcohol solutions.
- Extended and evaluated Geometric Mean (GM), Harmonic Mean (HM), and Equation-of-State (EQS) models for SLL systems.
Main Results:
- Observed a wetting transition from water-wetting to oil-wetting with decreasing interfacial tension for glass and stainless steel.
- Mica remained water-wetting, while PTFE exhibited oil-wetting behavior.
- The extended EQS (e-EQS) method provided reasonable predictions for SLL wettability, requiring fitting of specific interfacial energy terms based on material properties.
Conclusions:
- The e-EQS method is a promising approach for predicting SLL wettability, outperforming extended GM and HM models.
- Successful application of e-EQS requires fitting the appropriate solid-liquid interfacial energy term (e.g., $\gamma_{S-o}$ for low surface energy materials like PTFE).
- The study provides valuable insights into SLL wetting phenomena and offers a predictive tool for material selection and process design.

