Contact Angles of Submillimeter Particles:  Connecting Wettability to Nanoscale Surface Topography

A method is presented for the measurement of contact angles of particles in the size range 100−1000 μm, using an optical microscope. This method is used to characterize the wettability of polyethylene particles produced in a gas-phase polymerization process. The as-polymerized particles are shown to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Langmuir 2007-05, Vol.23 (10), p.5255-5258
Main Authors: Forward, Keith M, Moster, Amanda L, Schwartz, Daniel K, Lacks, Daniel J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemistry
Exact sciences and technology
General and physical chemistry
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Summary:A method is presented for the measurement of contact angles of particles in the size range 100−1000 μm, using an optical microscope. This method is used to characterize the wettability of polyethylene particles produced in a gas-phase polymerization process. The as-polymerized particles are shown to be significantly more hydrophobic than melt-processed polyethylene materials. The surface structure of the particles is examined with scanning electron microscopy, and the increased hydrophobicity of the as-polymerized particles is attributed to the nanoscale texture of the particle surfaces.
ISSN:0743-7463
1520-5827
DOI:10.1021/la700471y