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Wettability and Surface Tension of Amphiphilic Polymer Films: Time‐Dependent Measurements of the Most Stable Contact Angle
Author(s) -
Martinelli Elisa,
Galli Giancarlo,
Cwikel Dory,
Marmur Abraham
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201200163
Subject(s) - contact angle , wetting , surface tension , polymer , materials science , amphiphile , biofouling , composite material , polymer chemistry , copolymer , chemistry , membrane , thermodynamics , physics , biochemistry
The wettability of new amphiphilic block copolymer films is studied by measuring different types of water contact angles (static, receding, advancing, and most stable). The most stable contact angles are used to calculate the surface tensions of the films following the recently developed Marmur–Valal correlation. Most stable contact angles of water in an air‐in‐water system are also measured to study the changes in surface tension over relatively long periods of immersion time. The new approach yields surface tension values that are higher than those calculated by previous methods. The results suggest that reconstruction of the surface takes place at short time scale and continues to occur at long time scale. The responsive character of the polymer films can have implications for their use as biofouling release coatings.