DataPhysics Automated Video Based Contact Angle and Interfacial Tension Analysis

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Optical Contact Angle OCA30 with multiple dosing unit

Optical Contact Angle OCA40 with Nanodosing

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 industry 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.

i)       Camera and lens for formation of clear image (single image or video)

ii)      Sample positioning and temperature/environmental control

iii)     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 ‘systems’ OCA30 through to OCA40 micro are examples of systems that allow for the automation of the liquid drop delivery (from up to six software controlled syringe drive systems), temperature/environmental control of the test area, AND the automation of the placement of the sample (x, y, z axis) within the field of view of any of the available camera technologies.   

The automation of the sample positioning allows for the pre-programming of entire evaluation routines such as ‘surface mapping’ of electronic wafers and the ‘micro’ ability of the OCA40 drop delivery and imaging system allows for the study of drops on single fibres and specific areas of electronic components.

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

i.       Instrument control

ii.      Contact angle and surface free energy determination

iii.     Surface and IFT from pendant drop evaluation

iv.      Surface and ITF from the evaluation of the lamella contour

v.       Static and dynamic contact and on single fibres

vi.       Oscillation and relaxation of pendant drops

For information on OCA Spares and Accessories - click here.

For more information on Video Based Optical Contact Angle OCA15 to OCA20 - click here.

For more information on Portable Video Based Optical Contact Angle PCA100M - 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.