DataPhysics Video Based Contact Angle and Interfacial Tension Analysis

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Optical Contact Angle OCA15 with single dosing unit

Optical Contact Angle OCA20 with multiple dosing unit

The extent to which a liquid will ‘wet’ a solid with which it comes into contact, is key to the success or failure of a huge range of engineering applications. The ease with which a liquid will move over a surface and the stability of the ‘new’ solid/liquid interface can be derived from the measurement of contact angle (liquid on solid), through surface free energy (of solid substrate) and onto work of adhesion.

Important industries sectors to which this technology is applicable are: Paints, inks, varnishes, adhesives, composite materials, and ensuring the biocompatibility of medical devices.

The basic OCA frame provides a platform for the construction of the required system from an extensive range of specialised components.

1. Camera and lens, for formation of clear image (single image or video).
2. Sample positioning and temperature/environmental control.
3. Drop delivery system.

The modular design philosophy and the number of options available at each point of the instrument construction, provides for an almost infinite number of combinations of hardware. The DataPhysics systems OCA15 EC through to OCA20 allow for the automation of the liquid drop delivery (from up to four software controlled syringe drive systems) and temperature/environmental control of the test area, but require manual placement of the sample within the field of view of any of the available camera technologies.   

All devices are supported by bespoke and stable software, designed with the same modularity in mind:

1. Instrument control
2. Contact angle and surface free energy determination
3. Surface and IFT from pendant drop evaluation
4. Surface and ITF from the evaluation of the lamella contour
5. Static and dynamic contact and on single fibres  
6. Oscillation and relaxation of pendant drops 

For information on OCA Spares and Accessories - click here.

For information on higher specification Optical Contact Angle Instruments - Automated Video Based Contact Angle & Interfacial Tension Analysis click here.

For information on Portable Video based Optical Contact Equipment - click here.

Application Request:

Application note 1 - Surface and IFT by pendant drop (general) - click here.

Application note 2 - Absorption of liquids into ‘solid’ media - click here.

Application note 3 - Surface Tension between inks and fountain water solutions - click here.

Application note 4 - Optimisation of the surface properties of polymer films - click here.

Application note 5 - The lamella method for the determination of surface tension in ‘thick’ liquids - click here.

Application note 6 - Simplified determination of the surface free energy of polymers - click here.

Application note 14 - The determination of The Work of Adhesion (via CA and IFT data) - click here.

Application note 15 - Determination of contact Angle of a single fibre - click here.