Contact Angle (CA) Analysis

Contact angle analysis (CA) is a versatile non-destructive technique able to provide information on the hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties of surfaces, and on wettability processes at interfaces.

The OIH can provide static and dynamic CA measurements on a wide range of materials, using water and organic solvents.

Precise characterisation of solid-liquid interfaces plays an essential role in basic research and product development within many industrial and academic areas. Determining the hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties of surfaces using CA can be relevant in technological processes such as surface coating and painting, ink-jet printing, surface cleaning, and dispersion of active formulations. This technique has also been utilised to investigate complex cell-biomaterial interactions.

We can provide the following contact angle analysis:

Dynamic CAs

This technique provides information on wetting hysteresis, which originates from specific interactions between the solvent molecules and the surface. For instance, this can unravel the presence of topographical heterogeneities or chemically active interfaces.

Static sessile drop

This method uses different liquids to probe the surface energy of solid substrates, to evaluate successful surface functionalisation and to detect homogeneities in surface coatings.

Pendant droplet

With this technique, we can determine the liquid-air or liquid-liquid interfacial tension using a droplet suspended on the needle and measuring the characteristic radii of curvature of the droplet. This method can unravel the presence of surfactants and emulsifiers.

Back to: Open Innovation Hub for Antimicrobial Surfaces