Applications of Surface tension-

“Recap on surface Tension"

Surface tension is the tendency of fluid surfaces to shrink into the minimum surface area possible

The property of a liquid surface acting as if it were a stretched elastic membrane.

There are many applications of surface tension in day to day on which daily activities depend:-

1) Soaps and detergents -

✓Soaps and detergents have several uses in everyday life. Everything gets cleaned properly while
washing with soaps or detergents.

Lifting Dirt and grease-

✓ Surface tension is the force that causes liquids to form droplets, making it difficult for them to spread
across a surface.

✓Soaps and detergents contain molecules called surfactants, which lower the surface tension of water.

✓ This allows the water to spread more easily, enabling it to penetrate and lift dirt, oil and grease from
surfaces.

✓ Surfactants in soaps and detergents also have the ability to surround and encapsulate oil and grease
molecules. This process known as emulsification, helps to disperse these substances in water, facilitating
their removal during rinsing.

✓ The reduction in surface tension by surfactants also promotes the formation of foam. Foam helps to
trap and suspend dirt and debris, allowing them to be easily rinsed away.

By lowering surface tension. soaps and detergents can effectively wet and penetrate fabric fibers, aiding
in the removal of stains.

2) In printing and inkjet technology

surface tension plays a crucial role in the formation and ejection of ink droplets onto the printing
substrate
✓ Inside an inkjet printer, ink is stored in small reservoirs called ink cartridges. When a printing
command is received a tiny piezoelectric crystal or heating element the printhead rapidly heats up or
vibrates, creating pressure within the ink chamber.

✓ The increased pressure forces a small amount of ink through a microscopic nozzle orifice in the punt
head. However, the surface tension resists the formation of droplets, causing the ink to form a column or
ligament at the nozzle tip.

✓ To overcome surface tension, the ink column elongates until it reaches a critical point where it breaks
up into individual droplets due to the combined effects of pressure and surface tension.

✓ Proper control of surface tension ensures that the ink droplets maintain their spherical shape and
don’t spread excessively upon contact with the substrate such as paper/fabric

Upon landing on the substrate, the ink droplets quickly spread out due to surface tension forces, forming
a thin film

by understanding and controlling surface tension the Inkjet printer manufacturers can optimize the
printing process to produce high quality prints.

3. in cosmetics industry

Many cosmetic products, such as creams and lotions, are emulsions containing both water-based
(aqueous) and oil-based (lipid) ingredients.

Surface tension affects how easily a cosmetic product spreads over the skin or hair. Lower surface
tension formulations spread more readily, providing smoother and more even coverage.

Surfactants and other surface-active agents are incorporated into formulations to reduce surface
tension, enhancing spreadability and ensuring uniform application.

Surface tension influences the foaming properties of cosmetic products such as shampoos, body washes,
and facial cleansers. Surfactants are added to these formulations to lower surface tension and promote
the formation of stable foam. The presence of foam enhances the efficacy leave us feeling nice.
Surface tension affects the wetting and penetration of cosmetic products into the skin or hair. Lower
surface tension formulations can more effectively penetrate the outer layers of the skin or hair follicles,
delivering active ingredients and moisturizing agents to where they are needed most.

By understanding and manipulating surface tension, cosmetic formulators can design products that
deliver optimal performance, sensory attributes, and consumer appeal.