Surface Tension Measurement for Rapid Wetting Processes

Printing, bonding, spraying and cleaning: processes such as these require surfactants that are already effective in fractions of a second – and an instrument that can record their effectiveness. The Bubble Pressure Tensiometer BP100 from Krüss determines the  dynamic surface tension as a function of the surface age in a time window from only 5 milliseconds up to 100 s.

A software-controlled flow of compressed air emerging from a capillary produces air bubbles in the sample.  A sensitive pressure sensor determines the maximum pressure during  bubble formation, from which the surface tension can be obtained.  Thanks to its built-in compressor the instrument does not need an  external compressed air connection. Thermostatted  measurements are  possible without any problems.

In addition to the time-dependent surface tension, the measurement  also supplies the stationary value according to Hua & Rosen. Diffusion  and adsorption coefficients can be calculated from surfactant  concentration series – these are important parameters where the  mobility of surfactants is concerned. After a minimal preparation period  the measurement is carried out fully automatically up to data output in  the form of a plot. With a mouse-click measuring parameters, results  and evaluations appear in a comprehensive report. Thanks to the  LabDesk software platform for all Krüss tensiometers data from other  instruments can be included.