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The Practical Guide to Surface Science (2026)

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This is a practical guide to Surface Science for researchers working in the Chemicals Industry.

Dans ce tout nouveau guide, vous apprendrez tout sur :

  • Crucial surface science principles
  • The significance of surface science measurements for the Chemicals industry
  • Normes et directives ASTM applicables

Plongeons dans le vif du sujet.

chemical

Contenu

mesure

Mesure de l’angle de contact

tension

Mesure de la tension superficielle

énergie

Mesure de l’énergie de surface

angle de glissement

Mesure de l’angle de glissement

Monde réel

Applications dans le monde réel

Norme et guide

Normes et lignes directrices

Executive Summary

What it covers: A practical guide to the four core surface measurements—contact angle (static + advancing/receding), surface tension (static + dynamic), surface energy, and sliding angle—and how to apply each in chemicals R&D, formulation, and QC. It also links measurement choices to real production problems like wetting defects, dispersion stability, and adhesion failures.
Key insights: Advancing/receding (dynamic) contact angles give a more realistic picture of wettability on real, imperfect surfaces than a single static value, and Young–Laplace vs. polynomial fitting is a repeatability vs. flexibility trade-off. Use dynamic surface tension when interfaces evolve quickly (droplet/bubble formation, foams, solvent evaporation/drying), and treat benchmark datasets/images as fast “sanity checks” to catch contamination or treatment drift.
Business value: Better control of surface properties improves nanoparticle dispersibility, coating/substrate adhesion, and emulsion stability—reducing rejects, rework, and troubleshooting time. In sustainability-focused production, surface measurements help optimize catalysts and wetting/interaction behavior to cut waste and energy use while improving consistency.
Standards to follow: Use ASTM D7334 for advancing contact angle practice and the ISO 19403 series for reproducible wettability/SFE, dynamic angles, and roll-off/sliding behavior in R&D and QC. For liquid coatings, follow EN ISO 19403‑3 for pendant-drop surface tension (and cite the exact revision/edition used to keep QC trending comparable).
Bottom line: This is a standards-aligned, shop-floor-to-lab playbook for choosing the right surface measurement at the right time—and interpreting it in a way that improves product reliability, speeds root-cause work, and strengthens formulation decisions. It turns surface science from “nice-to-have data” into an operational tool for tighter QC and better-performing chemical products.

Chapitre 1 : Introduction

The surface properties of materials significantly impact the chemical industry, influencing product quality, performance, and consumer satisfaction. Understanding surface tension, contact angle, sliding angle, and surface energy enables the development of chemicals and materials with superior adhesion, dispersibility, and stability.

In addressing the chemical industry’s challenges—such as creating high-performance products, and ensuring product stability and longevity—precision, innovation, and efficiency are essential. Surface science offers critical insights into surface interactions, interfacial phenomena, and material compatibility, providing a foundation for optimizing chemical production methodologies.

We use the following surface properties to understand the behavior of Chemicals products and improve their quality.

Chapitre 2 : Mesure de l’angle de contact

L’angle de contact quantifie la mouillabilité d’une surface en représentant l’angle entre la surface d’un liquide et une surface solide.
Recherche Dropletlab

Sample Image taken from Droplet Lab Tensiometer.

Young – Méthode Laplace

  • 1. Cette méthode utilise l’ensemble du profil de chute pour calculer la valeur de l’angle de contact.
  • 2. This method is only compatible with an axisymmetric drop, which is not always seen in practice because a needle is typically inserted into the drop to increase or decrease the drop volume.
  • 3. This method yields more consistent results than the polynomial fitting method.

Méthode polynomiale

  • 1. This method uses only a portion of the drop profile to calculate the contact angle value.
  • 2. Cette méthode est compatible avec les gouttes axisymétriques et non axisymétriques.
  • 3. The measurement results of this method are less consistent, as they can be influenced by local surface imperfections.
Angle de contact dynamique

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.

Angle de contact dynamique par rapport à l’angle de contact statique

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

Mesure de l’angle de contact : le guide définitif

Open Benchmark Data: Contact Angle & Surface Energy

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.

Glass - DI Water
Glass - DI Water
Nylon - DI Water
Nylon - DI Water
PMMA - DI Water
PMMA - DI Water
Teflon - DI Water
Teflon - DI Water

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.

Explore the full benchmark datasets (contact angle + surface energy)

Measurements were performed with the Droplet Lab Dropometer under controlled laboratory conditions. Treat these values as sanity checks and starting points for your own process targets, not as product specifications.

Chapitre 3 : Mesure de la tension superficielle

Cette propriété mesure la force qui agit à la surface d’un liquide, dans le but de minimiser sa surface.

Mesure de la tension superficielle

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

Mesure de la tension superficielle : le guide définitif

Chapitre 4 : Mesure de l’énergie de surface

L’énergie de surface fait référence à l’énergie nécessaire pour créer une unité de surface d’une nouvelle surface.
231

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

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.

Dataset Hub

Chapitre 5 : Mesure de l’angle de glissement

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.

Angle de glissement 1

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

Mesure de l’angle de glissement : le guide définitif

Chapitre 6 : Applications dans le monde réel

Within the Chemicals industry, several case studies exemplify the advantages of conducting surface property measurements.

Dynamic-covalent fluorosurfactant system for stabilizing fluorinated-oil emulsions by forming an elastic interfacial film

The authors report a newly synthesized fluorosurfactant made by copolymerizing a fluoroacrylate with a boronic-acid-containing acrylamide to stabilize droplets of fluorinated oils. At the fluorinated oil/water interface, the copolymer can dynamically couple with diols or polyols present in the aqueous phase, forming an ultrathin elastic film that stiffens the interface. This interfacial rigidification suppresses droplet recoalescence and enables more robust droplet-based applications.

Role of the Droplet Lab Goniometer

The Droplet Lab tensiometer was used in pendant-drop mode to quantify interfacial tension between perfluorohexane (PFH) and aqueous phases with/without additives. This measurement verified how the new fluorophilic boronic acid (FBA) copolymer and poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) each influence interfacial tension and supported the key conclusion that lasting emulsion stability requires the combined FBA–PVA interfacial assembly, not just tension reduction alone (methods: pendant-drop tensiometry; results summarized and visualized in Fig. 2b–c).

Key Findings

  • Interfacial-tension reduction is measurable but not sufficient by itself:
    • Adding FBA to PFH reduces PFH–water interfacial tension to ~20 mN/m (from ~30 mN/m without additives).
    • Adding PVA to water reduces it to ~17 mN/m.
    • The combined FBA-in-PFH + PVA-in-water yields a similar interfacial tension, but stable resistance to coalescence occurs only when both are present.
  • Mechanistic stabilization via an elastic interfacial film: dynamic boronic ester bonding between FBA (oil phase) and PVA (water phase) forms a solid-like elastic film, evidenced by transient wrinkling during droplet retraction (Fig. 2a).
  • Elasticity jump vs commercial control surfactant: interfacial rheology shows the FBA–PVA interface has a ~2-orders-of-magnitude higher complex shear modulus than interfaces stabilized with a commercial fluorosurfactant control (008-FluoroSurfactant) or PVA alone.

Enables complex, thermally reconfigurable emulsions: stable water-in-oil-in-water double emulsions with a hexane:PFH mixed oil shell can undergo temperature-triggered phase separation (around an UCST near 23 °C), reconfiguring into more complex morphologies (triple-emulsion structures) upon cooling.

Why It Matters

For chemical formulators working with fluorinated oils (often challenging to stabilize), this study shows that engineering interfacial mechanics (creating an elastic film via dynamic covalent coupling) can be more decisive than lowering interfacial tension alone. Practically, this supports surfactant system selection and spec-setting: pairing a fluorophilic surfactant with a complementary aqueous-phase polymer (diol/polyol functionality) can deliver robust anti-coalescence performance, enabling more reliable emulsions for microreactors, encapsulation, and responsive materials.

Method Snapshot

  • Sample/interface: PFH–water interfaces with/without FBA in PFH and/or PVA in water.
  • Droplet method: Pendant-drop tensiometry (Droplet Lab tensiometer; OpenDrop analysis).
  • Température: not explicitly stated for tensiometry (typical use suggests ambient conditions; only reportable as “not specified”).
  • Angle type: N/A (no contact-angle measurements reported).

Surface/interfacial tension outcomes: PFH–water ~30 mN/m (baseline), reduced to ~20 mN/m (with FBA) and ~17 mN/m (with PVA).

Data Note

Figure 2c contains the surface/interfacial tension measurements (boxplots) for PFH–water interfaces across four conditions (PFH/DIW, PFH/PVA–water, PFH+FBA/DIW, PFH+FBA/PVA–water), generated using the Droplet Lab tensiometer.

Figure

Citation (APA Format)

Wu, Z., Deveney, B. T., Werner, J. G., Aime, S., & Weitz, D. A. (2025). Fluorophilic boronic acid copolymer surfactant for stabilization of complex emulsion droplets with fluorinated oil. Lab on a Chip, 25, 2315–2319. https://doi.org/10.1039/d5lc00309a

View Publication →

Nanoparticle Dispersibility

In the dynamic and ever-evolving chemical industry, achieving a uniform dispersion of nanoparticles is a challenging task that often determines the effectiveness of a formulation. Imagine a scenario where nanoparticles, commonly used to enhance the performance or appearance of a product, tend to aggregate, leading to non-uniform distributions within the formulation. This aggregation not only reduces the product's efficacy but also poses challenges in the manufacturing process.

By precisely manipulating surface properties such as wettability and surface energy, nanoparticles can achieve a homogeneous dispersion throughout the formulation. This uniform dispersion is crucial for ensuring consistent product quality and performance. The benefits of this precise control go beyond achieving uniformity. Improved nanoparticle dispersibility enhances product stability, shelf life, and overall effectiveness, providing a significant competitive advantage in the market.

Nanoparticle Dispersibility

Adhesion Enhancement

In the field of coatings and adhesives, adhesion is critically important as it can significantly impact a product's effectiveness. Consider a situation where the bonding between a coating and its underlying substrate is suboptimal, leading to issues such as peeling, delamination, or reduced longevity. By accurately measuring contact angles and understanding the interactions at the interface between the coating and substrate, you can make informed decisions on modifying surface properties.

Enhanced adhesion is achieved by strategically adjusting the surface properties of coatings to increase compatibility with substrates. This not only improves the product's performance but also extends its lifespan, enhancing the durability and efficacy of products across various industries, including automotive, construction, and others that heavily rely on coatings and adhesives.

Adhesion Enhancement

Sustainable Chemical Production

A chemical company faces the challenge of transitioning to sustainable methodologies amid growing environmental concerns, stringent regulations, and shifting customer preferences towards eco-friendly products. To tackle this challenge, the company leverages surface science as a transformative tool.

Contact angle and surface tension measurements play a crucial role in this transition by providing precise insights into the surface properties of materials. These measurements help the company evaluate and optimize the wetting characteristics and interactions of raw materials, leading to the development of more efficient catalysts. By understanding and manipulating these surface properties, researchers can enhance catalyst efficiency, reduce waste, and lower energy consumption, aligning with sustainable production principles.

As a result, the company significantly reduces its environmental impact, surpasses regulatory requirements, and positions itself as a leader in environmentally responsible chemical manufacturing. This shift not only benefits the environment but also leads to cost savings, market expansion, and a strengthened brand image, as consumers increasingly favor products that adhere to sustainability standards.

Sustainable Chemical Production

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Si vous êtes intéressé par la mise en œuvre de ces applications ou de toute autre application, veuillez nous contacter.

Contactez-nous

Chapitre 7 : Normes et lignes directrices

In an industry where precision reigns supreme, how can Chemicals 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.

EN ISO 19403-3 (Part 3) — Paints and varnishes — Determination of surface tension using the pendant drop method

What it is

An optical method for determining the surface tension (γ) of paints, varnishes, and related liquid coating materials by fitting the pendant-drop profile using Young–Laplace shape analysis. Applicability can be restricted for liquids with non-Newtonian flow behaviour, so results must be interpreted within those limits.

When to use it

Incoming QC / batch-release trending

Incoming QC / batch-release trending
Use it to detect batch-to-batch γ drift in resins, solvent blends, additive packages, and finished formulations before application risk shows up on the line.

Troubleshooting wetting and leveling defects

Troubleshooting wetting and leveling defects
Use it when defects (e.g., craters/fisheyes, poor edge coverage, orange peel, intercoat wetting changes) suggest a wettability shift, additive drift, or contamination.

In-scope / Out-of-scope

In scope
  • Liquid coating materials (e.g., resins, solvents, additives, surfactant packages, and paint/varnish formulations) where pendant-drop profiling is feasible.
  • Surface tension of liquids (γ) determined from pendant-drop shape using Young–Laplace fitting.
  • Controlled-condition measurement suitable for repeatable QC trending (temperature defined; density input required for calculations).
  • Replicate-based reporting with fit/shape validity checks (e.g., axisymmetry and fit success).
Out of scope
  • Contact angle / solid-surface wettability measurements (use contact-angle standards instead).
  • Interfacial tension and polar/dispersive component determination (addressed in other parts/methods; only claim if explicitly supported and validated).
  • Alternative surface-tension methods (e.g., ring/plate/bubble-pressure approaches) not based on pendant-drop profile fitting.
  • Full rheology characterization (the method notes non-Newtonian limitations but does not replace rheology testing when flow behaviour drives instability).

Minimum you must report (checklist)

  • Standard revision used (explicitly cite the year/edition used by your quality system) and any deviations from your SOP.
  • Sample identity and history (material type, lot/batch, dilution if any, conditioning/aging time, filtration/degassing if used).
  • Test temperature (setpoint and how it was controlled/verified).
  • Liquid density value at test temperature and the source/method used to obtain it (required input for Young–Laplace analysis).
  • Instrument + pendant-drop setup (instrument model, needle/capillary type/ID, optical calibration/scale approach, and any key acquisition settings that affect shape).
  • Replicates and statistics (number of drops; report γ plus median/mean and spread such as SD or IQR).
  • Fit model and validity criteria (Young–Laplace fitting stated explicitly; axisymmetry requirement; fit-quality pass/fail rule and how failed fits were handled).
  • Result reporting basis (γ in mN/m; time point or stabilization rule after drop formation; any observed time-dependence or instability).

Note: ISO listings show a 2017 edition and a newer 2024 edition—use and cite the exact revision required by your QMS so trending remains comparable. Instruments (e.g., Dropometer) can execute pendant-drop imaging and Young–Laplace fitting with QC gating, but they do not replace the standard or your lab’s controlled protocol.

How to interpret results (guardrails)

  • Treat γ as a trend vs a retained control/baseline, not a universal pass/fail: define Green/Yellow/Red limits by correlating γ shifts to downstream outcomes (leveling, defect counts, spray appearance) for each material family.
  • Use replicate scatter as a diagnostic: unusually high spread or unstable drop profiles often indicate contamination, sample heterogeneity, or handling/cleaning issues—investigate before adjusting formulation.
  • Fit quality is a hard gate: if the drop is not axisymmetric or the Young–Laplace fit fails your acceptance criteria, the result is not valid—re-clean, re-sample, and re-run.
  • Be cautious with non-Newtonian/time-dependent liquids: if the profile evolves with time or repeatability is poor, interpret γ within the method’s limitations and confirm with complementary rheology and/or application tests.
View the official ISO 19403‑3 Standard

Maintenant, c’est à votre tour

We hope this guide showed you how to apply surface science in the Chemicals industry.

Maintenant, nous aimerions vous céder la parole :

  • Quelle est l’application réelle #1 de cet article que vous voulez essayer en premier ?
  • Peut-être avons-nous manqué une norme industrielle pertinente.
  • Ou peut-être avez-vous une question sur quelque chose que vous avez lu.

Feel free to leave a comment below—we’d love to hear from you.

Foire aux questions

Do we need a computer or mains power on the floor?

No—measurements run on your company phone; the app works offline.

Do we need a computer or mains power on the floor?

No—measurements run on your company phone; the app works offline. No—measurements run on your company phone; the app works offline. No—measurements run on your company phone; the app works offline.

Do we need a computer or mains power on the floor?

No—measurements run on your company phone; the app works offline. No—measurements run on your company phone; the app works offline. No—measurements run on your company phone; the app works offline.

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