Interfacial measurements
In industrial formulations particles are often dispersed by the use of the adsorption of either surfactants or polymers onto the surfaces of the particles. The effectiveness of the adsorbed species is partly dependent on the conformational arrangement at the solid surface. The BCC is able to obtain information on these molecular arrangements using surface pressure, static and dynamic surface tension, and contact angle measurements. For further information about the available techniques and instrumentation please do not hesitate to email bcc@bristol.ac.uk. Specific instrumentation available at the Bristol Colloid Centre includes:
- Kruss DSA-10 drop shape analyser - powerful optical technique for determining both air-liquid and liquid-liquid interfacial tension, static and dynamic contact angle. Rapid wetting and spreading effects can be observed as well as aging effects over long periods.
- Kruss K12 Tensiometer - static surface tension measurements.
- Sensodyne 6000 - dynamic surface tension measurements, using a differential bubble technique.
- Kruss Spinning Drop Tensiometer - measurement of very low interfacial tensions.