Du Noüy ring method

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Short description: Method of measuring a liquid's surface tension

In surface science, the du Noüy ring method is a technique for measuring the surface tension of a liquid. The method involves slowly lifting a ring, often made of platinum, from the surface of a liquid. The force, F, required to raise the ring from the liquid's surface is measured and related to the liquid's surface tension γ:

[math]\displaystyle{ F = w_\text{ring} + 2\pi \cdot (r_\text{i} + r_\text{a}) \cdot \gamma, }[/math]

where ri is the radius of the inner ring of the liquid film pulled, and ra is the radius of the outer ring of the liquid film.[1] wring is the weight of the ring minus the buoyant force due to the part of the ring below the liquid surface.[2]

When the ring's thickness is much smaller than its diameter, this equation can be simplified to

[math]\displaystyle{ F = w_\text{ring} + 4\pi R \gamma, }[/math]

where R is the average of the inner and outer radius of the ring, i.e. [math]\displaystyle{ (r_\text{i} + r_\text{a})/2. }[/math][2]

This technique was proposed by the French physicist Pierre Lecomte du Noüy (1883–1947) in a paper published in 1925.[3]

Close up of the ring drawn out of the liquid

The measurement is performed with a force tensiometer, which typically uses an electrobalance to measure the excess force caused by the liquid being pulled up and automatically calculates and displays the surface tension corresponding to the force. Earlier, torsion wire balances were commonly used. The maximum force is used for the calculations, and empirically determined correction factors are required to remove the effect caused by the finite diameter of the ring:

[math]\displaystyle{ F = w_\text{ring} + 4\pi R \gamma f, }[/math]

with f being the correction factor.

The most common correction factors include those by Zuidema and Waters (for liquids with low interfacial tension), Huh and Mason (which covers a wider range than Zuidema–Waters), and Harkins and Jordan (more precise than Huh–Mason, while still covering the most widely used liquids).[4]

The surface tension and correction factors are expressed by

[math]\displaystyle{ \gamma = \frac{F}{4 \pi R} f, }[/math]

where γ is surface tension, R is the average diameter of the ring, and f is correction factor.

Zuidema and Waters[2]
[math]\displaystyle{ (f - a)^2 = \frac{4b}{\pi ^2} \frac{1}{R^2} \frac{\gamma_\text{measured}}{\rho_\text{lower} - \rho_\text{upper}} + C, }[/math]

where

F = maximum pull of rings [dyn/cm],
ρ = density of the lower and upper phases,
[math]\displaystyle{ C = 0.04534 - 1.679 \frac{r}{R}, }[/math]
a = 0.7250,
b = 0.0009075 [s2⋅cm−1],
r = Du Noüy wire radius,
R = Du Noüy ring radius.
Huh & Mason[5][6]

The correction factor is described as a function of [math]\displaystyle{ \tfrac{R}{r} }[/math] and [math]\displaystyle{ \tfrac{R^3}{V}. }[/math] See the references.

Harkins and Jordan[7][8]

The correction factor is tabulated as a function of [math]\displaystyle{ R/r }[/math] and [math]\displaystyle{ R^3/V }[/math]; see the references.

See also

A classical torsion wire-based du Noüy ring tensiometer. The arrow on the left points to the ring itself.

References

  1. Butt, Hans-Jürgen; Graf, Karlheinz; Kappl, Michael (2003). Physics and Chemistry of Interfaces. pp. 14–15. https://archive.org/details/physicschemistry00butt. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Zuidema, H.; Waters, George (1941-05-01). "Ring Method for the Determination of Interfacial Tension". Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Analytical Edition 13 (5): 312–313. doi:10.1021/i560093a009. ISSN 0096-4484. https://doi.org/10.1021/i560093a009. 
  3. du Noüy, Pierre Lecomte (1925). "An Interfacial Tensiometer for Universal Use". The Journal of General Physiology 7 (5): 625–633. doi:10.1085/jgp.7.5.625. PMID 19872165. PMC 2140742. http://jgp.rupress.org/cgi/reprint/7/5/625. 
  4. Udeagbara, Stephen Gekwu (2010-07-30) (in en). Effect of Temperature and Impurities on Surface Tension of Crude Oil. Universal-Publishers. ISBN 9781599423555. https://books.google.com/books?id=dOSZ2LsBJKgC&pg=PA19. 
  5. Huh, C.; Mason, S. G. (1975-07-01). "A rigorous theory of ring tensiometry" (in en). Colloid and Polymer Science 253 (7): 566–580. doi:10.1007/BF01753960. ISSN 1435-1536. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01753960. 
  6. Huh, C.; Mason, S. G. (1977-05-01). "A rigorous theory of ring tensiometry: Addendum on the wall effect" (in en). Colloid and Polymer Science 255 (5): 460–467. doi:10.1007/BF01536462. ISSN 1435-1536. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01536462. 
  7. Harkins, William D.; Jordan, Hubert F. (1930-05-01). "A Method for the Determination of Surface and Interfacial Tension from the Maximum Pull on a Ring". Journal of the American Chemical Society 52 (5): 1751–1772. doi:10.1021/ja01368a004. ISSN 0002-7863. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01368a004. 
  8. Harkins, William D.; Jordan, Hubert F. (1930-07-18). "Surface Tension by the Ring Method" (in en). Science 72 (1855): 73–75. doi:10.1126/science.72.1855.73. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 17819453. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.72.1855.73. 

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