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In many applications the ability of liquids to wet solid surfaces affects the quality of products, their manufacturing processes or their performance at its end use.
Physical property measurements of the liquid interaction on the substrate can be achieved by contact angle measurements using the Optical Contact Angle (OCA35) and Dynamic Contact Angle Tensiometer (DCAT11) instruments. These assessments are quantitative and can be tied into changes to surface chemistry by surface analysis techniques such as XPS, SIMS and AES. The physical behaviour can also be understood looking in the SEM at fibre surface roughness as this affects microscopic wetting and localised contact angles. The combination of contact angle measurements, surface texture / roughness and surface chemical analysis can be used to unambiguously assess the affects of manufacturing process modification and formulation changes improving product performance or reliability of in-line processes such as coating systems.
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Optical Contact Angle Measurement
Measurement of static and dynamic contact angles on plane, convex, and concave surfaces, contact angle hysteresis, surface free energy of solids, surface and interfacial tensions and absorption properties. |
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Dynamic Contact Angle Tensiometer
Measurement of static surface and interfacial tensions on liquids, contact angles on powders, fibre bundles and the adsorption behaviour of liquids on wettable materials. Measurement of dynamic advancing and receding contact angles, determination of critical micelle formation concentrations of surfactant solutions, surface free energies of solid materials, work of adhesion between liquids and solids. |
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Example typical applications where wetting and contact angle measurements are important include the following materials and chemicals:
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Surface Analysis 
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