Attension Theta Optical tensiometer and 3D topography module

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The Attension Theta Optical tensiometer determines wettability by measuring the contact angle of the substrate with the given liquid. This technique, when combined with the company’s 3D topography module, enables the user to study micro-scale roughness in applications such as coating formulations and surface modifications to ensure good adhesion.

Although other techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) measure surface roughness, measurements can be relatively slow, the measurement area is limited to a few square micrometres and sample damage may occur as the needle comes in contact with the substrate. The 3D topography module provides micro-scale roughness measurements in conjunction with contact-angle measurements on the same sample location. The measurement takes only a few seconds and it can be run and analysed without a specialist. Roughness correction on contact angles also enables the calculation of fundamental surface free energy on rough surfaces.

Applications where solid surface wettability plays a crucial role include body implants, contact lenses, biomaterials, semiconductor wafers, biofilm growth and self-cleaning surfaces. In addition, the wettability of smaller objects like fibres and nanoparticles plays an important role in the performance of products such as composites, paints and coatings, inks, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food products.