Methods for the calculation of surface free energy of solids

Purpose: The main purpose of this paper is the analysis of the most common methods for the calculation of the surface free energy (SFE) of solids, utilising the results of the contact angle measurements. The calculation deals also with the SFE at the interface, especially that at the surface of polymers and polymeric materials. The survey has been meant to ease the understanding of physical processes occurring at the solid-liquid interface and to help to find proper measuring methods with respect to various physical systems. Design/methodology/approach: The presented analysis has been based on the papers of the fundamental nature as well as on the specialised literature reports. The results of the experimental and theoretical studies of the author of this article are also considered. Findings: Different assumptions have been made in the individual methods for calculating the SFE of polymeric materials. Thus, the SFE values for a given material, obtained by various methods and with use of different measuring liquids, are not consistent. The method for the calculation of the SFE of porous or granulated materials, powders, and fibres, in which the Washburn equation is utilised, is very useful in practice. Currently, there is no appropriate alternative to this method. Research limitations/implications: The method for calculating the SFE with use of the equation of state requires further investigation, both experimental and theoretical. Further studies on the phenomena associated with penetration of the measuring liquids into the bulk of an examined material and on the relevant changes concerning this material, including the changes in its SFE, have also to be carried out. Practical implications: The presented results of the investigations may be applied in optimisation of the current and derivation of the new methods for calculating the SFE of solids and liquids, including mainly the SFE of polymers in the solid state. Originality/value: Because of differences in the assumptions made in most of the methods for the SFE calculation and of differences in the interactions between the individual measuring liquids and the examined material, the SFE values for various polymer materials may be compared with one another only when the contact angle measurements have been made using the same measuring liquids and when the SFE calculations have been performed by the same method.

[1]  Souheng Wu,et al.  Calculation of interfacial tension in polymer systems , 2007 .

[2]  M. Żenkiewicz.  Comparative study on the surface free energy of a solid calculated by different methods , 2007 .

[3]  A. Wilhelm Neumann,et al.  Determination of Surface Tension and Contact Angle from the Shapes of Axisymmetric Fluid Interfaces without Use of Apex Coordinates , 2006 .

[4]  M. Żenkiewicz.  New method of analysis of the surface free energy of polymeric materials calculated with owens-wendt and neumann methods , 2006 .

[5]  M. Żenkiewicz.  Effects of electron-beam irradiation on wettability and surface free energy of a polypropylene film , 2005 .

[6]  C. Volpe,et al.  The solid surface free energy calculation. I. In defense of the multicomponent approach. , 2004, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[7]  D. Maniglio,et al.  The solid surface free energy calculation; II. The limits of the Zisman and of the "equation-of-state" approaches. , 2004, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[8]  E. Chibowski.  Surface free energy of a solid from contact angle hysteresis. , 2003, Advances in colloid and interface science.

[9]  E. Chibowski,et al.  On the interpretation of contact angle hysteresis , 2002 .

[10]  M. Żenkiewicz.  Some Effects of Corona Discharge Treatment of Biaxially-Oriented Polypropylene Film , 2001 .

[11]  D. Kwok,et al.  Contact angle measurements and interpretation: wetting behavior and solid surface tensions for poly(alkyl methacrylate) polymers , 2000 .

[12]  Daniel Y. Kwok,et al.  Contact angle measurement and contact angle interpretation , 1999 .

[13]  K. Zhu,et al.  Low‐rate dynamic contact angles on polystyrene and the determination of solid surface tensions , 1998 .

[14]  J. Lyklema,et al.  Book review on Applied Surface Thermodynamics, A.W. Neumann and J.K. Spelt (eds.), Marcel Dekker, New York etc., 1996 , 1998 .

[15]  E. Chibowski,et al.  On the use of Washburn's equation for contact angle determination , 1997 .

[16]  Ernesto Occhiello,et al.  Polymer Surfaces: From Physics to Technology , 1994 .

[17]  Chi Ming Chan,et al.  Polymer surface modification and characterization , 1993 .

[18]  Dongqing Li,et al.  EQUATION OF STATE FOR INTERFACIAL TENSIONS OF SOLID-LIQUID SYSTEMS , 1992 .

[19]  E. Chibowski.  Solid surface free energy components determination by the thin-layer wicking technique , 1992 .

[20]  P. Taylor,et al.  Physical chemistry of surfaces , 1991 .

[21]  Dongqing Li,et al.  A reformulation of the equation of state for interfacial tensions , 1990 .

[22]  M. Chaudhury,et al.  Interfacial Lifshitz-van der Waals and polar interactions in macroscopic systems , 1988 .

[23]  M. Chaudhury,et al.  The role of van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds in “hydrophobic interactions” between biopolymers and low energy surfaces , 1986 .

[24]  A. Wells.  THE SURFACE ENGINEERING OF METALS , 1986 .

[25]  A. Neumann,et al.  An equation-of-state approach to determine surface tensions of low-energy solids from contact angles , 1974 .

[26]  C. A. Ward,et al.  On the surface thermodynamics of a two—component liquid-vapor-ideal solid system , 1974 .

[27]  Souheng Wu.  Polar and Nonpolar Interactions in Adhesion , 1973 .

[28]  F. Fowkes.  Donor-Acceptor Interactions at Interfaces , 1972 .

[29]  J. R. Dann.  Forces involved in the adhesive process , 1970 .

[30]  D. K. Owens,et al.  Estimation of the surface free energy of polymers , 1969 .

[31]  A. Dupré.  Théorie mécanique de la chaleur , 1969 .

[32]  Frederick M. Fowkes,et al.  Calculation of Work of Adhesion by Pair Potential Summation , 1969 .

[33]  F. Fowkes.  Calculation of work of adhesion by pair potential suummation , 1968 .

[34]  P. Sell,et al.  Über die grenzflächenenergetische Zustandsfunktion, II , 1965 .

[35]  F. Fowkes.  ATTRACTIVE FORCES AT INTERFACES , 1964 .

[36]  L. Girifalco,et al.  A Theory for the Estimation of Surface and Interfacial Energies. I. Derivation and Application to Interfacial Tension , 1957 .

[37]  W. Zisman,et al.  The spreading of liquids on low-energy surfaces. VI. Branched-chain monolayers, aromatic surfaces, and thin liquid films , 1953 .

[38]  W. Zisman,et al.  The spreading of liquids on low-energy surfaces. III. Hydrocarbon surfaces , 1952 .

[39]  W. Zisman,et al.  The spreading of liquids on low-energy surfaces. II. Modified tetrafluoroethylene polymers , 1952 .

[40]  W. Zisman,et al.  The spreading of liquids on low energy surfaces. I. polytetrafluoroethylene , 1950 .

[41]  D. H. Bangham.  The Gibbs adsorption equation and adsorption on solids , 1937 .

[42]  D. H. Bangham,et al.  Adsorption and the wettability of solid surfaces , 1937 .

[43]  Thomas Young,et al.  An Essay on the Cohesion of Fluids , 1800 .