Surface tension measurement - analysis by Goniometer

Your need: perform a Goniometer analysis

The Goniometer in a few words

The goniometer is a device for measuring surface tension and surface tension by contact angle.

The device deposits a drop of deionised water or other solvent with a predefined volume of a few µl on the surface of a material and then analysis the shape of the drop at a rate of 80 images per second.

Why perform a Goniometer analysis?

The dimensions of the droplet give information on the intermolecular forces and allow the calculation of a surface tension in mN/m. The angle formed between the droplet and the material gives information on the hydrophilic character of the material studied. The smaller the angle measured, the more hydrophilic the material. For certain applications such as gluing or printing, the absorption rate of a liquid on its substrate is a critical parameter.
analyses goniomètre
goniometer

The dynamic measurement of the contact angle provides information on the spreading rate or absorption rate of the material under analysis. As with the static measurement, a drop is deposited on the surface of the material. The evolution of its contact angle is measured by acquiring an image every millisecond for up to 10 minutes.

FILAB offers you its Goniometer analysis services

In order to support manufacturers in the development and quality control of their products, the FILAB laboratory provides a state-of-the-art 2100m² analytical facility for goniometer analysis.

This equipment can be used in addition to other analytical techniques:

our services

  • Drop size measurement by laser granulometry

  • Surface energy measurement

  • Drop angle measurement

  • Measurement of adhesion between a liquid and a solid

  • Characterization of droplet distribution by SEM-FEG-EDX

  • Measurement of the surface wettability of a material

  • Liquid surface tension measurement

  • Static and dynamic drop angle measurements

The positive aspects of FILAB

  • A highly qualified team

  • Responsiveness in responding to and processing requests

  • A complete analytical park of 2100m²

  • Tailor-made support

Contact Angle is the most widespread method for quantifying the wetting properties of a solid and characterizing other surface features. The contact angle is defined as the angle formed by a liquid droplet at the point where the three phases (solid, liquid, and gas) converge, also known as the three-phase boundary point. At this boundary, there is an equilibrium between the forces exerted on it by the solid, liquid, and gas or sometimes by the solid, liquid, and liquid. Generally, a measured contact angle below 90° indicates high wetting properties, while a contact angle above 90° indicates low wetting properties.

 

Surface tension can be understood in two ways: as a tension force acting along all directions of the surface per unit length, or as the energy needed to increase the surface area. In both interpretations, the surface aims to minimize its surface area or potential energy. Consequently, a surface with no (or negligible) external forces will take the form of a sphere, which has the smallest surface area to volume ratio. 

Thomas ROUSSEAU
Thomas ROUSSEAU Scientific and Technical Director
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