
Profile Analysis Tensiometers
Advanced instruments for surface and interfacial characterization.
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Thermodynamics of three-phase contact, contact-angle hysteresis, rough-surface wetting and experimental methods for solid–liquid interfaces.
Thermodynamic foundations, contact-line behavior and wetting on real solid surfaces.
Explore topicsThree-phase interfacial systems
A contact angle is not an intrinsic property of a solid alone. It describes a particular solid–liquid–vapor system under a defined preparation history and measurement protocol. Interfacial free energies, surface heterogeneity, roughness and contact-line pinning determine the experimentally observed wetting state.
Read the complete scientific review covering the thermodynamics of three-phase contact, sessile-drop analysis, advancing and receding contact angles, contact-line hysteresis, surface free energy, rough-surface wetting, plate immersion, Washburn analysis and dynamic wetting by surfactant solutions.
Explore selected concepts governing contact angle, contact-line motion and apparent wetting on ideal and rough solid surfaces.
The equilibrium relation between solid–vapor, solid–liquid and liquid–vapor interfacial tensions at the three-phase contact line.
Advancing and receding contact angles, contact-line pinning and the metastable range observed on real solid surfaces.
Limiting wetting states for rough and composite surfaces, including complete penetration and trapped-gas configurations.