A novel method for measuring dynamic contact angles of fibers with spindle-knots

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Maryam Aliabadi - , German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) (Author)
  • Wilfried Konrad - , Chair of Botany, University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Thomas Stegmaier - , German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) (Author)
  • Volkmar von Arnim - , German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) (Author)
  • Cigdem Kaya - , German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) (Author)
  • Yan Liu - , Jilin University (Author)
  • Bin Zhan - , Jilin University (Author)
  • Gouyong Wang - , Jilin University (Author)
  • Götz Gresser - , German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) (Author)

Abstract

The determination of the dynamic contact angle is of significant interest for the characterization of the wettability of technical fibers and textiles in diverse fields of science and technology. There exist traditional methods for dynamic contact angle measurements of flat surfaces and of fibers with a uniform cross-sectional shape along the fiber. So far, however, no method has been reported which is suitable for structured fibers, particularly for spindle-knotted structured fibers of varying cross-sections. This article describes a new method for measuring the dynamic contact angle for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) spindle-knotted structured fibers. The method is an outcome of integrating the results obtained from experiments (applying force tensiometry) and a proposed theoretical model describing such fibers. The reliability and conformity of the results are shown by comparing the measured dynamic contacts angle of PDMS as spindle-knot and as a flat surface. This method may pave the road for better wettability analysis of various structured fibers. It also allows to measure the local receding and advancing contact angles for macroscopic/microscopic structured fibers (especially when they are not accessible as flat surfaces) against the various test liquids.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere50673
JournalJournal of applied polymer science
Volume138
Issue number28
Publication statusPublished - 20 Jul 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • dynamic contact angle, fiber, PDMS, spindle-knots, Wilhelmy method