Fibre Surface Energy and Wettability Characterisation
topic
Mineral fibre surface energy is determined by single fibre wicking rate measurement using the Wilhelmy plate method with probe liquids of known surface tension, calculating polar and dispersive surface energy components from Owens-Wendt analysis; contact angle of resin droplets on single fibres by sessile drop microscopy measures the thermodynamic work of adhesion at the fibre-matrix interface.
Role
Quantifies the surface thermodynamic properties governing polymer matrix wetting and adhesion to mineral fibre surfaces, enabling mechanistic understanding of how sizing chemistry modifies fibre surface energy to optimise interfacial adhesion for specific matrix systems and predicting the environmental durability of fibre-matrix bonds in humid service conditions.