Fowkes model of surface energy

In summary, the geometric mean is used in Fowkes' model of surface energy, and it comes from Berthelot combining rules which were developed in 1898 and published in Comptes Rendus Chimie journal. This rule is used to accurately calculate the overall energy of a mixture of different molecules, and is especially useful when dealing with solutions of different substances.
  • #1
teqnick
6
0
Hello
I need an answer for my Bachelor’s dissertation.
In Fowkes model of surface energy, work of adhesion is defined as the sum of geometric mean of dispersive and nondispersive forces.
In all articles, people say that the geometric mean comes from Berthelot combining rules, developed in 1898 and published in Comptes Rendus Chimie journal.

Unfortunately I was unable to get to this old article, so I am asking you, why the geometric mean was used in this theory?

Please help, and thank you.
 
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  • #2
The Berthelot combining rules are a set of equations which describe the interactions between molecules in solution. The rules state that the interaction energy between two different molecules is equal to the geometric mean of the two individual energies. This means that the total energy of a system is equal to the product of the individual energies, divided by the square root of their product. This rule is used to accurately calculate the overall energy of a mixture of different molecules, and is especially useful when dealing with solutions of different substances. In Fowkes' model, the work of adhesion is the sum of the geometric mean of the dispersive and nondispersive forces. This equation gives a more accurate representation of the physical forces involved in the surface energy than if it was calculated using the individual forces alone.
 

FAQ: Fowkes model of surface energy

1. What is Fowkes model of surface energy?

The Fowkes model of surface energy is a theoretical framework that explains the interactions between a solid surface and a liquid or gas. It proposes that the surface energy of a solid is a combination of two components: dispersion forces and polar forces.

2. How does Fowkes model predict surface energies of different materials?

The Fowkes model uses the principle of additivity, meaning that the total surface energy of a material can be calculated by adding the contributions from each individual component. The model takes into account the chemical composition and structure of the material to predict its surface energies.

3. What are the applications of Fowkes model of surface energy?

The Fowkes model has various applications in fields such as adhesion, wetting, and surface modification. It is used to understand the behavior of materials in contact with liquids or gases, and to design surface treatments for specific applications.

4. How does Fowkes model explain the surface tension of liquids?

The Fowkes model proposes that the surface tension of a liquid is related to the surface energy of the solid it is in contact with. It suggests that the liquid will spread over a solid surface if its surface energy is lower than that of the solid, and form droplets if its surface energy is higher.

5. What are the limitations of Fowkes model of surface energy?

Although the Fowkes model is widely used and has been successful in predicting surface energies of many materials, it has some limitations. It does not take into account the effects of surface roughness, which can significantly affect surface energy. Additionally, the model does not consider the effects of surface chemistry, which can also play a role in surface energy interactions.

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