Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Vol.206, No.1, 44-51, 1998
Low-rate dynamic contact angles on poly(methyl methacrylate) and the determination of solid surface tensions
Low-rate dynamic contact angles of nine liquids on a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer are measured by an automated axisymmetric drop shape analysis-profile (ADSA-P). It is found that two liquids dissolved the polymer on contact. From the experimental contact angles of the other seven polar and nonpolar liquids, it is found that the liquid-vapor surface tension times cosine of the contact angle changes smoothly with the liquid-vapor surface tension (i.e., gamma(l nu) cos theta depends only on gamma(l nu) for a given solid surface). The dependence of gamma(l nu) cos theta on gamma(s nu) is explicitly illustrated by replacing the solid surface from the PMMA to other methacrylate polymers : such a procedure shifts the curves in a very regular manner. Thus, because of Young's equation, gamma(sl) depends only on gamma(l nu) and gamma(s nu). This contact angle pattern is in harmony with those from other inert and noninert (polar and nonpolar) surfaces. The solid-vapor surface tension of PMMA calculated from the equation of state approach for solid-liquid interfacial tensions is found to be 38.5 mJ/m(2), with a 95% confidence limit of +/-0.5 mJ/m(2) from the experimental contact angles of the seven liquids.
Keywords:LIQUID-MIXTURES;COAL PARTICLES;FILM FLOTATION;ENERGY;FORCES;SEDIMENTATION;SYSTEMS;STATE;INTERFACES;ROUGHNESS