Surface wetting and contact angle: basics and characterisation

Wettability is of pivotal importance in many areas science and technology, ranging from the extractive industry to development advanced functional materials biomedicine problems. An increasing interest wetting-related phenomena stimulates impetuous growth research activity this field. The presented review aimed at cumulative coverage issues related wettability its investigation. It outlines basic concepts wetting as a physical phenomenon, methods for characterisation (with emphasis on sessile drop techniques), performances contemporary instrumentation measurements. In first section, physics considered. intermolecular interactions are classified dependent their nature. Thus, discussion involving polar molecules covers permanent dipole - freely rotating dipoles. Consideration resulting polarization includes between ions uncharged molecules, Debye interactions, London dispersion interactions. Hydrogen bonds discussed separately. second section deals with surface tension effect shaping liquid brought contact solid body. relationship angle well equations that quantify discussed. Young–Laplace equation governing shape resting analysed. third devoted experimental characterization underlying theoretical analysis. Particular attention paid method known Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis (ADSA). Principles automated determination relevant values data briefly Basics numerical techniques intended analysing digitized image extracting information outlined. fourth an overview commercially available studying measurements presented. prototype analyser designed manufactured ISP NASU introduced.