This is a practical guide to Surface Science for researchers working in the Construction Industry.
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Concrete is the most widely used material in the global construction industry. It is cost-effective, offers high compressive strength, is durable, has a relatively simple production process, and requires minimal maintenance. Despite these advantages, concrete has a hydrophilic, porous structure that can pose challenges during construction. One major issue is the corrosion of steel reinforcement due to concrete’s water absorption, which reduces the lifespan of concrete structures. Additionally, there is a growing demand for intelligent, resilient, and sustainable buildings and infrastructures that focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To meet these demands, new concrete materials such as low carbon footprint cement, self-compacting concrete, self-healing and self-sensing concrete, and superhydrophobic cementitious materials with self-cleaning capabilities have been developed. Modifying surface properties plays a crucial role in addressing the challenges of traditional concrete and in creating this new class of advanced materials.
We use the following surface properties to understand the behavior of Construction products and improve their quality.
Sample Image taken from Droplet Lab Tensiometer.
Young – Méthode Laplace
Méthode polynomiale
Ideally, when we place a drop on a solid surface, a unique angle exists between the liquid and the solid surface. We can calculate the value of this ideal contact angle (the so-called Young’s contact angle) using Young’s equation. In practice, due to surface geometry, roughness, heterogeneity, contamination, and deformation, the contact angle value on a surface is not necessarily a single consistent value but rather falls within a range. The upper and lower limits of this range are known as the advancing and receding contact angles, respectively. The values of advancing and receding contact angles for a solid surface are highly sensitive to many parameters, such as temperature, humidity, homogeneity, and minor contamination of the surface and liquid. For example, the advancing and receding contact angles of a surface can differ at different locations.
Les surfaces et les revêtements pratiques présentent naturellement une hystérésis d’angle de contact, indiquant une gamme de valeurs d’équilibre. Lorsque nous mesurons les angles de contact statiques, nous obtenons une seule valeur dans cette plage. S’appuyer uniquement sur des mesures statiques pose des problèmes, tels qu’une mauvaise répétabilité et une évaluation incomplète de la surface en ce qui concerne l’adhérence, la propreté, la rugosité et l’homogénéité.
In practical applications, we need to understand how easily a liquid spreads (advancing angle) and how easily it is removed (receding angle), such as in painting and cleaning. Measuring advancing and receding angles offers a holistic view of liquid-solid interaction, unlike static measurements, which yield an arbitrary value within the range.
Ces informations sont cruciales pour les surfaces du monde réel avec des variations, une rugosité et une dynamique, aidant des industries telles que les cosmétiques, la science des matériaux et la biotechnologie à concevoir des surfaces efficaces et à optimiser les processus.
Découvrez comment la mesure de l’angle de contact est effectuée sur notre tensiomètre
Pour une compréhension plus complète de la mesure de l’angle de contact, lisez notre mesure de l’angle de contact : le guide définitif
These reference measurements show how deionized water wets four standard substrates measured with the Droplet Lab Dropometer. Use them as visual and numerical benchmarks when you're checking your own sample preparation, treatments, and chemistry.
Full contact angle and surface energy datasets (including additional liquids and statistics) are available on our dataset hub.
The droplet images above are taken from the same benchmark series as our open dataset. For each substrate and probe liquid we report:
● Advancing and receding contact angles (and hysteresis)
● Derived surface energy (SFE) values based on multi-liquid measurements
● Measurement conditions, uncertainties, and sample preparation details
Comparing your own droplet shapes and angles against these references is a fast way to spot contamination, treatment drift, or unexpected changes in wettability.
Cette propriété mesure la force qui agit à la surface d’un liquide, dans le but de minimiser sa surface.
Sample Image taken from Droplet Lab Tensiometer
Tension superficielle dynamique
La tension superficielle dynamique diffère de la tension superficielle statique, qui fait référence à l’énergie de surface par unité de surface (ou à la force agissant par unité de longueur le long du bord d’une surface liquide).
La tension superficielle statique caractérise l’état d’équilibre de l’interface liquide, tandis que la tension superficielle dynamique tient compte de la cinétique des changements à l’interface. Ces changements peuvent impliquer la présence de tensioactifs, d’additifs ou de variations de température, de pression et de composition à l’interface.
Quand utiliser la mesure dynamique de la tension superficielle
Dynamic surface tension is essential for processes that involve rapid changes at the liquid-gas or liquid-liquid interface, such as droplet and bubble formation, coalescence (change in surface area), the behavior of foams, and the drying of paints (change in composition, e.g., evaporation of solvent). It is measured by analyzing the shape of a hanging droplet over time.
La tension superficielle dynamique s’applique à diverses industries, notamment les cosmétiques, les revêtements, les produits pharmaceutiques, la peinture, l’alimentation et les boissons, ainsi que les processus industriels, où la compréhension et le contrôle du comportement des interfaces liquides sont essentiels pour la qualité du produit et l’efficacité des processus.
Apprenez comment la mesure de la tension superficielle est effectuée sur notre tensiomètre
Pour une compréhension plus complète de la mesure de l’énergie de surface, lisez notre mesure de la tension superficielle : le guide définitif
Sample Image taken from Droplet Lab Tensiometer
Découvrez comment la mesure de l’énergie de surface est effectuée sur notre tensiomètre
Pour une compréhension plus complète de la mesure de l’énergie de surface, lisez notre mesure de l’énergie de surface : le guide définitif
For benchmark contact angle and surface energy values on glass, nylon, PMMA, and Teflon, see the Open Benchmark Data panel above or visit our Dataset Hub for full CSV downloads.
L’angle de glissement mesure l’angle auquel un film liquide glisse sur une surface solide. Il est couramment utilisé pour évaluer la résistance au glissement d’une surface.
Sample Image taken from Droplet Lab Tensiometer
Apprenez comment la mesure de l’angle de glissement est effectuée sur notre tensiomètre
Pour une compréhension plus complète de la mesure de l’angle de glissement, lisez notre Mesure de l’angle de glissement : le guide définitif
Within the Construction industry, several case studies exemplify the advantages of conducting surface property measurements.
Défi : Dust and pollution accumulated on the solar panels of a commercial building, reducing their energy generation efficiency.
Solution : Applying a hydrophobic and oleophobic coating to the solar panels increased the contact angle, causing rainwater to bead up and carry away dust and pollutants. This self-cleaning effect improved energy generation efficiency and reduced maintenance costs.
Défi : Water leakage in an underground parking structure was causing vehicle damage and structural deterioration.
Solution : A waterproofing membrane with low surface tension was applied to the concrete surfaces. This membrane provided effective water repellency, preventing water infiltration and preserving the integrity of the parking structure while protecting the vehicles.
Défi : Des allées piétonnes glissantes dans un centre commercial ont entraîné des accidents de glissade et de chute par temps de pluie.
Solution : The mall management installed textured, slip-resistant tiles with superhydrophobic surfaces. These tiles, characterized by a water static contact angle above 150° and a sliding angle below 10°, provided better traction even when wet, significantly reducing slip and fall incidents. This increased safety for shoppers and employees and decreased the mall's liability for accidents.
Défi : Engineers faced adhesion problems between the steel and concrete components in a steel-concrete composite structure due to incompatible surface energies.
Solution : The engineering team applied a bonding agent to the steel beams to modify their surface energy. This agent enhanced compatibility between the steel and concrete, resulting in a robust bond. The composite structure exhibited improved load-bearing capacity and durability, ensuring the building's safety and longevity.
Défi : An automotive assembly plant experienced paint adhesion problems on metal components, leading to defects and reduced vehicle durability.
Solution : The engineering team improved paint adhesion by selecting a suitable metal pretreatment process. They tested various processes and chose plasma cleaning, which had the lowest surface tension. This solution ensured a durable, long-lasting finish on the vehicles.
Si vous êtes intéressé par la mise en œuvre de ces applications ou de toute autre application, veuillez nous contacter.
In an industry where precision reigns supreme, how can Construction manufacturers ensure their products withstand scrutiny? The answer lies in standards and guidelines: the compass that guides them through the complex maze of quality and performance.
European standard method to determine a solid surface’s wettability and surface free energy (or critical surface tension) by measuring static contact angles of one or more probe liquids on a plane test surface. The resulting metrics support predictions of adhesive wet-out and help characterize surfaces before pretreatment, coating, or bonding.
Use contact angle + surface free energy to quickly flag low-wet-out substrates (metals, plastics, glass, coated parts) before you spend time on full lap-shear/peel trials.
Use repeatable, multi-liquid measurements to detect contamination, treatment drift (plasma/corona/flame/primer), and surface aging/recovery that can drive adhesion failures.
Note: EN 828 tells you how to measure and calculate wettability/SFE, but it does not define universal “good bonding” thresholds—your limits must be calibrated to your adhesive + substrate + pretreatment and validated against bond tests. Roughness and chemical non-uniformity can bias static angles, so consistent surface prep, replication, and drop-quality QC are essential.
We hope this guide showed you how to apply surface science in the Construction industry.
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