Thermodynamics Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Thermodynamics, including details on enthalpy, entropy, energy transitions.

Capillary adhesion in the limit of saturation: thermodynamics, self-consistent field modeling and experiment.

Sprakel J, Besseling NA, Stuart MA, Leermakers FA

Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Colloid Science, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 6, Wageningen, the Netherlands. joris.sprakel@wur.nl

We introduce a simple thermodynamic argument for capillary adhesion forces, for various geometries, in the limit of saturation of the bulk phase. For one specific geometry (i.e., the sphere-plate geometry such as that found in the colloidal probe AFM technique), we provide evidence of the validity of our model by comparison with experiment and self-consistent field calculations. With this latter numerical technique, we also discuss deviations from the macroscopic argument both when the system is moved away from saturation and when the capillary bridge becomes so small that macroscopic thermodynamics is no longer accurate.

Published 12 February 2008 in Langmuir, 24(4): 1308-17.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Thermodynamics Research Today. All Rights Reserved.