This paper presents earlier published results, as well some new ones, of the flotation tests carried out with the help of a Hallimond tube for several different apolar and polar minerals. This is to depict the relationship between mineral surface free energy and its flotability. Although the thermodynamic condition for the efficient flotation of a mineral is well known, this paper prompts the not-acquainted readers to get familiar with the fundamental thermodynamic relationships involved in the wetting processes and to learn about usefulness of the simple flotation experiments for this purpose. This relationship between the flotation recovery of a mineral and the work of water spreading on the mineral surface is clearly illustrated. The work of spreading is the difference between the work of adhesion and the work of water cohesion. This work has to be negative to carry out an efficient flotation of a mineral sample. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to show that the simple Hallimond tube is a very useful tool for studying solid (mineral) surface hydrophobic/hydrophilic character under the kinetic conditions.
Using the layer wicking method (TLW method) the electron-donor interactions of surface free energy of the organic liquids: benzene (C6H6), toluene C6H5CH3), and tetrahydrofuran ((CH2)4O) was determined. For this purpose the penetration rate measurements of these liquids in the porous layers of silica gel and alumina were performed. The obtained values of the electron-donor parameter of surface free energy of the studied organic liquids were compared with the literature data obtained by the direct measurement of the interface tensions of water/organic liquids.
The aim of the research was to determine how the drop size affects the contact angle values and determine its optimal size for further contact angle measurements and comparison of the contact angle values measured for three probe liquids (water, formamide, diiodomethane) on the glass surface using the: sessile drop and tilting plate methods. Next, using the measured contact angles, the total surface free energy and its components were determined from the van Oss et al. (Lifshitz-van der Waals acid- base component, LWAB), Owens-Wendt, Neumann and contact angle hysteresis (CAH) approaches. The studies showed, that drop size is very important for contact angle measurements and consequently, for surface free energy estimation.
The paper presents the studies of metal wettability using two methods: the sessile droplet and immersion ones. Based on the measured contact angles, there was calculated apparent surface free energy from the acidic–basic approach and the contact angle hysteresis. The advancing contact angles measured using the immersion method exhibit a little higher values than those measured by the sessile droplet method. The application of the immersion method leads to obtaining higher contact angle hysteresis. Both methods give different values of contact angles but they can be applied independently for estimation of metal surface wettability.
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