J Surfact Deterg DOI 10.1007/s11743-011-1297-9
BOOK REVIEW
A. Wilhelm Neumann, Robert David, and Yi Zuo (eds): Applied Surface Thermodynamics, 2nd Edition CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, London, 2011 Jean-Louis Salager
Ó AOCS 2011
Applied Surface Thermodynamics, 2nd Edition deals with fundamental and experimental aspects of surface science and provides an excellent source of information for researchers dedicated to the theoretical interpretation of phenomena, as well as to the many applications of this area of knowledge. J.-L. Salager (&) Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Surfactants and Detergents, Me´rida, Venezuela e-mail: salager@ula.ve
It is a second edition, which has been updated and upgraded in many aspects, and has improved its pedagogical features so that it may be used both for basics by those new to the field or to help experts clear head-scratching doubts in topics dealing with delicate measurements of tension or contact angle. The first two chapters cover a comprehensive presentation of capillarity phenomena, strongly anchored in Gibbs thermodynamics. It is quite advanced but could be overviewed rather than studied in detail if one’s interest is in practical issues. The second chapter covers the case of axisymmetric liquid-fluid interfaces and provides the basics for the next three chapters, which are dedicated to drop shape analysis. Yes, it is an amazing set of three chapters—170 pages—on different aspects from fundamental to practical, on axisymmetrical drop shape analysis (ADSA), not found anywhere else as far as I know. This is a treasure for researchers with doubts about the method and the accuracy of the image analysis used to measure the interfacial tension down to the micro newton per meter. The sessile and pendant drop methods are scrutinized, and it is a pity that the spinning drop is not considered at the same level, perhaps because there is no problem of contact angle evaluation for this last one. In any case these chapters should be read by people involved in up-to-date surfactant applications such as detergency or enhanced oil recovery. Then there is another amazing set of four chapters on contact angle—more than 300 pages—ranging from the ambiguities of what is really the contact angle, to the actual measurement techniques with all the usual experimental problems and artifacts. Some sections are dedicated to the importance of the solid surface state and preparation, the actual methods, the effect of monolayer adsorption or thin film presence. Data for the contact angle of many liquids on many surfaces are provided. Chapter 9 is dedicated to
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showing how solid surface tension may be calculated from contact angle data through two approaches which are not fairly well known, but could be extremely useful in practice to make a comparison of surfactant performances. Chapter 10 deals with another approach to measure solid surface tension through the shape of the solid–liquid solidification front. Chapters 11 and 12 concern the solid particles at interface. In the past decade, particles have been known to eventually be a surfactant substitute for the stabilization of emulsions and foams. However, it is also understood that
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their wettability, and thus their effect, could heavily depend on the presence of adsorbed surfactant. Since the use of both surfactants and particles is likely to be a hot topic in the near future for different kinds of applications from petroleum production to food, cosmetics, and paints, these chapters will be very useful for researchers entering this domain. The last chapter is an epilogue in which two of the three editors provide their feelings about the topic of line tension, as well as its relation with other concepts dealt with in the book.