MES 712

Interfacial Phenomena

http://www.hpcnet.org/MES712SP2016
William.cross@sdsmt.edu

What is Interfacial Phenomena?

Key word is Interface
Boundary between 2 phases
S-L, S-G, L-G primary ones we will be concerned
with
G-G does not exist too low density, molecules
can not be kept separate
S-S exists, but not usually governed interfacially
S-vacuum vacuum not a phase usually call
this a surface

Generally, Surface and Interface can be

used interchangeably

Why do we care about

Interfacial Phenomena?
Everything has an interface/surface
Not always important

Nanostructures and Nanomaterials:

Synthesis, Properties, and Applications
By Guozhong Cao, Ying Wang

Why do we care about

Interfacial Phenomena?

Nanostructures and Nanomaterials:

Synthesis, Properties, and Applications
By Guozhong Cao, Ying Wang

Why do we care about

Interfacial Phenomena?

Detergency
Glue
Foams
Mineral separation
Water treatment
Paint
Gasoline pumping
Milk
Breathing

Surface Energy/Tension
Unfulfilled interactions
Interface

Force/tension reducing
interfacial area

dG
( ) n ,T , P
dA

Surface Energy/Tension
mJ
72.8 2
m

k Boltz 1.38 x10

23

J
molecule K

Surface Active Agent

Surfactant
Major part of breathing is getting oxygen molecules
through the lung cells surface and into blood.
Surfactants modify surface/interfacial tension sufficiently,
in this case blood-air, to allow us to breathe.
Premature babies may not have these surfactants, so
sprayed into their lungs

Questions
How can a metal needle float on a water surface?
How can a teaspoon of olive oil suppress waves and
evaporation over several acres of water?
Why do liquids stick to some surfaces better than others?
How do soaps and detergent clean things?
How can we make a foam/froth?
How can we dissolve oil in water with a trace amount of a
3rd phase?
How can dense particles be suspended in water almost
indefinitely?

Colloids

Text Principle of Colloid and Surface Science

Colloid Chapter 1 (please read)
Colloid 1+ linear dimension between 1 nm and 1 mm
Nanoscience 1+ linear dimension less than 100 nm
subset of colloid

nano

colloid