Surface free energy components of glass from ellipsometry and zeta potential measurements

Two different experimental approaches based on ellipsometry and zeta potential measurements have been employed to determine the dispersion and polar surface free energy components of glass. From ellipsometry the adsorption isotherms of n-octane and water have been determined, yielding values for the film pressures of n-octane and water and the dispersion and polar surface free energy components of glass. Similarly, zeta potentials in water of glass covered with various amounts of n-octane and n-hexanol have been determined. Next, the film pressures of these liquids and surface free energy components of glass were also calculated. Thus determined values are 32 and 80 mJ/m2 (from ellipsometry) and 25 and 80 mJ/m2 (from zeta potentials) for the dispersion and polar components, respectively. The correspondence between the surface free energies obtained by two completely independent methods gives confidence to the approaches employed.