A Reinterpretation of Organic Liquid-Polytetrafluoroethylene Surface Interactions

Abstract

ABSTRACTABSTRACTThe wettability of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) by organic liquids is reanalyzed in terms of dispersion-polar interactions across the liquid-solid interface. The analysis provides values of γs d = 19.6 dyne/cm, and γS D = 2.0 dyne/cm for the respective dispersion and polar parts of the surface tension γs = 21.6 for PTFE. The definition of a polar contribution to the surface tension of PTFE clarifies detailed aspects of the wettability of this polymer by different homologous liquid series. A modified analytical definition for work of adhesion is developed and applied to this discussion.