Volume-12 (03/2006)

Upside down: Surface energy measurement of textiles by captive bubble method

The wetting behaviour of textiles can hardly be quantified by standard contact angle measurements due to unevenness of the sample and rapid ad- or absorption of sample liquids. This may be remedied by the captive bubble method which allows contact angle measurements on wetted samples. By means of this method, the surface energy and its polar and disperse part of two cotton materials, one mixed with synthetic fibres, could be measured. Thereby, the changes of water wettability occurring from this polymeric additive could be measured exactly.

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Measuring the surface free energy of human skin

Previously the wetting properties of cosmetic products could only be determined when sufficient "helping hands" were available. Tests were carried out which in the product was applied to the skin and the result then assessed. It would be helpful if a prediction about the wettability on the skin could be made in advance, particularly as interactions between the various additives make the behavior more complicated. This gap in our knowledge can now be closed by making contact angle measurements with the DSA100.

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