Wettability of single fibres – beyond the contact angle approach

• Published in: International journal of adhesion and adhesives Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 303 - 314
• Main Authors: Rebouillat, Serge, Letellier, Bertrand, Steffenino, Benoit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; B. Fibres; C. Contact angles; D. Interphases; Exact sciences and technology; Fibers and threads; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; C. Contact angles; D. Interphases; B. Fibres; Wettability; Synthetic fiber; Surface properties; Aramid fiber; Contact angle; Measurement method; Measurement accuracy; Experimental study; Computing method; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0143-7496; 1879-0127
• DOI: 10.1016/S0143-7496(99)00006-8

To know the wettability of fibres is useful to predict their adhesion potential to the matrices which they strengthen. The contact angle on a single fibre can characterise its wettability by the contacting liquid in a given environment. In this paper, the theoretical model proposed by Carroll (J Colloid Interface Sci 1976;57:488) and Yamaki and Katayama (J Appl Polym Sci 1975;19:2897) is reviewed. Using a modified version of their model and a modern image analysis approach, a computer assisted measurement of the inflection angle of the drop profile leads to a more accurate and faster calculation of the contact angle. Experiments on Kevlar ® fibre were conducted and statistics are presented. These provide a comparison between the traditional wetted length approach and the new one involving the inflection angle of the drop profile which appears to be a useful parameter for characterising fiber–liquid interactions of various wettability situations.