Experimental Investigation of the Contact Angle at Wetting the Non-ferrous Metals

Abstract

Experimental dependences on the effect of the drop volume from the contact angle under the conditions of the static three-phase contact line formation during wetting the nonferrous metals (aluminium, magnalium, copper and brass) are presented in the work. The surface of the substrates was investigated by modern equipment (profilometer "Micro Measure 3D station" and microscope TM-3000). The drop was placed on the surface by the precision electronic single-channel pipette (Thermo scientific). Shadow method was used to obtain the drop profile; symmetry of the drop was controlled by Schlieren method. The comparison of the methods used to determine the contact angle on the image of the drop profile was executed. It was established that in spite of influencing the friction and gravity forces the structure of metal surfaces affects greatly the value of the contact angle.