Interfacial tension and spreading coefficient of thin films: Review and future directions

Ken G. Pepper, Cristian Bahrim, Rafael Tadmor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The surface tension of a very thin film deviates from its thermodynamic thick film analogue. Generalized surface tension expressions can be obtained from intermolecular forces in order to calculate some important parameters such as the spreading coefficient of very thin films and the equilibrium shape and thickness of a pancake drop. These expressions become important for ultrathin films such as those relevant for oil extraction and for some biological calculations (in relation to vesicles and liposomes). We discuss such uses either when a thin surfactant layer covers a surface modifying its effective surface tension as a function of the surfactant layer thickness, or when a thin liquid layer is covering a surface and the thin film itself has a lower surface tension than the bulk value. Possible research directions in the field are outlined.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1379-1391
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Adhesion Science and Technology
Volume25
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Very thin films
  • disjoining pressure
  • thin wetting films
  • ultrathin films

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Materials Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Interfacial tension and spreading coefficient of thin films: Review and future directions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this