The wettability of a surface is defined by the interfacial chemical properties of both the liquid and solid phase. Measuring the contact angle with water is an important method to characterise how hydrophobic or hydrophilic a surface is i.e., how it interacts with water and water-like liquids. However, very hydrophilic surfaces will display a contact angle of 0° against water.
With traditional methods, it is difficult to quantify the effect of surface modifications when the contact angle becomes too low. For those materials, the concept of “imaginary contact angles” can be used to properly quantify highly hydrophilic materials.
DataPhysics Instruments was founded in 1997 and has now added tensiometry, spinning drop tensiometry and dispersion stability analysis to their available techniques establishing them a worldwide reputation in surface and interface science.
In this live workshop, Dr McMaster will:
- Review the fundamentals of surface chemistry
- Discuss wettability and contact angle analysis
- Introduce tensiometry to measure surface and interfacial tensions
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Samuel McMaster completed his PhD in 2020 at the University of Leeds where he investigated the nanomechanical properties of diamond-like carbon coatings to assess tribological performance under the supervision of Prof. Tomasz Liskiewicz, Prof Ben Beake and Prof. Anne Neville. Dr McMaster is currently a Materials Scientist (KTP Associate) at Coventry University and is the Event Manager of Surface Ventures.
