Low-rate dynamic contact angles on poly(methyl methacrylate/ethyl methacrylate, 30/70) and the determination of solid surface tensions

Abstract

Low-rate dynamic contact angles of 12 liquids on a poly(methyl methacrylate/ethyl methacrylate, 30/70) P(MMA/EMA, 30/70) copolymer were measured by an automated axisymmetric drop shape analysis-profile (ADSA-P). It was found that five liquids yield nonconstant contact angles, and/or dissolve the polymer on contact. From the experimental contact angles of the remaining seven liquids, it is found that the liquid–vapor surface tension times cosine of the contact angle changes smoothly with the liquid–vapor surface tension (i.e., γl|Kv cos θ depends only on γl|Kv for a given solid surface or solid surface tension). This contact angle pattern is in harmony with those from other methacrylate polymer surfaces previously studied.45,50 The solid–vapor surface tension calculated from the equation-of-state approach for solid–liquid interfacial tensions14 is found to be 35.1 mJ/m2, with a 95% confidence limit of ± 0.3 mJ/m2, from the experimental contact angles of the seven liquids. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2039–2051, 1999