How to Measure Surface Tension with the Goniometer

How to measure surface tension

To measure surface tension with the Goniometer, use the following steps:

First Task

To set up the system, begin by attaching the tilt stage to the base. Make sure it is securely fastened.
Next, take the time to adjust the screws on the stage to ensure it is perfectly level, which is important for accurate measurements.
Following this, attach the clamping mechanism to the tower securely. This mechanism will be used to hold the syringe.
Now, plug in both the USB and power cables, and then switch on the system to power it up.
Place the calibration sphere on the stage, making sure it's centered and stable for calibration purposes.
Start the camera to begin capturing images or video.
Proceed to focus the camera onto the calibration sphere to obtain a clear image.
After focusing, lock the lens in place to maintain the desired focus setting.
In the software interface, select 'Image' and provide a suitable file name for the data.
Once the settings are in place, click the 'Record' button to start capturing data.
After capturing the required data, be sure to stop the camera.
In the software, navigate to the 'Analyse' tab to access the analysis tools.
Open the calibration image to use as a reference for your measurements.
Using the software's tools, position the region of interest (ROI) around the calibration sphere.
Click 'Calibrate' to complete the calibration process successfully.

Second Task

Moving on to the next task, attach the filled syringe to the clamping mechanism securely.
Restart the camera for the next set of measurements.
In the software, select the 'Video' mode for recording a video of the syringe experiment.
Choose a file name for the video recording in the software settings.
Click the 'Record' button to start recording the syringe experiment.
Gradually push the liquid out of the syringe, maintaining a steady pace.
Continue pushing the liquid until a droplet eventually forms and falls from the needle tip.
When the experiment is complete, stop the camera to end the recording.
Return to the 'Analyse' tab in the software interface to access analysis tools.
Open the video file you just recorded for further analysis.
From the available measurements, select the 'Pendant Drop' measurement.
Specify the solvent density in the software to assist with calculations.
Navigate to the desired frame in the video for analysis.
Adjust the region of interest (ROI) to surround the droplet accurately.
Finally, click 'Analyse' in the software to process the data and obtain your results.

For further information about the Ossila Goniometer, see 'Contact Angle Goniometer'.

Contact Angle Goniometer

High-Res Video
Accurate
Simple to Use

Available From £2000

Resources and Support

Contact Angle: A Guide to Theory and Measurement

This guide will explain what a contact angle is and how it is measured. It will also show you how the Ossila Contact Angle Goniometer works and how to get the best measurement results.

A Guide to Surface Energy

Surface free energy is a measure of the excess energy present at the surface of a material, in comparison to at its bulk. It can be used to describe wetting and adhesion between materials.

Contact Angle Measurements of Surface Wetting

Surface wetting occurs when a droplet spreads out over a surface, such that its contact angle is below 90°. When the droplet spreads out completely, this angle will be 0°, and 'complete wetting' will have occurred.

Contact Angle Measurements on Uneven Surfaces

In this guide we will use the Ossila Contact Angle software to measure a droplet on an uneven surface.

Ossila Contact Angle Goniometer User Manual

The Ossila Contact Angle Goniometer provides a fast, reliable, and easy method to measure the contact angle or surface tension of a droplet.

Software and Drivers

The latest software and drivers including our cyclic voltammetry software for the Ossila Potentiostat and more.