Contact Angle Goniometry Protocols for Polyolefin Lamination Adhesion Verification
Sessile contact angle goniometry isolates polar and dispersive surface energy to verify polyolefin corona treatment and prevent lamination delamination.
Rabel Kaelble
Analytical Framework
Mathematical models for surface energy allow researchers to calculate the interaction forces between a solid and a liquid based on contact angle data. Standard laboratory procedures apply the rabel kaelble method to determine the work of adhesion between a substrate and a coating. Separating the energy components into two distinct parts allows for the evaluation of how a specific paperboard coating will behave when it meets a complex ink.
Calculation Method
Solving a linear equation derived from the contact angles of at least two different liquids provides the necessary coefficients for the surface energy components. Applying the rabel kaelble method involves plotting the data such that the slope and intercept reveal the polar and dispersive contributions. This separation is vital because two surfaces might have the same total surface energy but completely different wetting behaviors if their polar ratios differ.
Engineers use these values to troubleshoot adhesion problems where a coating appears chemically correct but fails to bond with an aqueous lacquer.
Data Requirement
Using only one liquid prevents the separation of the components and renders the calculation impossible. Accuracy improves when a range of liquids with varying polarities is used to generate the regression line.