Why measure surface energy?
By Kevin Brownsill, head of technical and learning at Intertronics, and Alison Fox, sales manager at Dyne Testing
Ref: FFT120625
Surface energy is crucial in determining the wetting behaviour of liquids on solid surfaces. Generally, surfaces with higher surface energy are more easily wetted by liquids, resulting in better spreading, while surfaces with lower surface energy are more likely to repel liquids. A prerequisite to any adhesion and bonding is wettability, so measuring surface energy is critical to the success in the application of adhesives, coatings, inks and more. Here, Kevin Brownsill, head of technical and learning at adhesives and sealant supplier Intertronics, and Alison Fox, sales manager at Dyne Testing, an Intertronics brand, answer some important questions about why manufacturers should measure surface energy.
