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AT TN 05 Washburn Method

The document discusses the Washburn method for studying powder wettability. [1] It involves measuring the amount of liquid absorbed into a powder bed over time using a force tensiometer and special powder holder. [2] The Washburn equation relates this measurement to surface properties like contact angle, allowing calculation of contact angles for powders. [3] Precise determination of material constants is required when applying the Washburn equation.

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107 views2 pages

AT TN 05 Washburn Method

The document discusses the Washburn method for studying powder wettability. [1] It involves measuring the amount of liquid absorbed into a powder bed over time using a force tensiometer and special powder holder. [2] The Washburn equation relates this measurement to surface properties like contact angle, allowing calculation of contact angles for powders. [3] Precise determination of material constants is required when applying the Washburn equation.

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[Technology Note] 5

The Washburn method


This technology note reviews the Washburn method and how it can be
utilized to study powder wettability.

Introduction
Direct contact angle measurements have become a standard
experiment when dealing with planar solid surfaces or cylindrical
materials, like fibers. Such direct approaches cannot be used on
finely dispersed solid materials, like powders. Usually a method
called capillary rise or Washburn method is utilized. The Washburn
method can be done by using a force tensiometer and a special
type of powder holder [1]. The measurement set up is shown in
Figure 1. The powder holder, with small holes in the bottom, is
immersed into the liquid and the amount of liquid absorbed into
the powder bed is measured against time.

Attension Sigma

be expressed as a sum of a capillary pressure and a hydrostatic


pressure. Thus equation (1) can be written:

where h is the liquid front height, g the gravitational constant, RS


the mean static radius of the capillary, and ρ the liquid density.
[Figure 1]: Schematic of the Washburn method
Now if hydrostatic pressure is neglected and we suppose that
r = RD2/RS, integration of the equation (2) with boundary condition
h=0 when t=0 gives:

The capillary rise method is based on the Poiseuille law related to


the liquid flow through a capillary:

Equation (3) is called Washburn equation. The porous bed is


considered as a bundle of parallel capillaries of constant radius.
The use of this equation would require a visual observation of
In the equation (1), v is the kinetics of flow, RD the mean the moving liquid front. Since this is much more difficult to do
hydrodynamic radius of the capillary, η the viscosity of the liquid, l than measuring the gained weight, the weight w is related to the
the length of the capillary and ΔP the pressure difference. ΔP can height in the cylinder by:

Attension TN 5 [1]
where ε is the porosity of the packed powder column, ρ the
density of the liquid, and R the inner radius of the tube. Finally
combining the equations (3) and (4):

which leads to:

[Figure 2]: Typical curve obtained with the Washburn method.

Equation (6) is often referred as modified Washburn equation. The References:


term c is a geometric factor and is constant as long as packing [1] B. Neirinck, J. van Deursen, O. van der Biest and J. Vleugels, “Wettability
and the particle size remains similar [2]. It has to be experimentally assessment of Submicrometer alumina powder using a modified Washburn
determined to each type of packing and powder combination. method”, Journal of American ceramic society 93 (2010) 2515.

Precise and accurate determination of the constant c is critical for [2] S. Kirdponpattara, M. Phisalaphong and B. Z. Newby, “Applicability of
Washburn capillary rise for determining contact angles of powders/porous
the correct application of the Washburn equation. In practice, to
materials”, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 397 (2013) 169.
solve the material constant the measurement has to be done first
[3] M. Cieslak, D. Puchowicz and H. Schmidt, “Evaluation of the possibility
with the completely wetting liquid such as hexane, heptane or of using surface free energy to study protective fabrics”, Textile Research
octane. The contact angle can thus be assumed to be zero (cos0 Journal 82 (2012) 1177.
=1) and the material constant c can be calculated if the properties [4] P. Hallett, “A Brief overview of the causes, impacts and amelioration of soil
of the liquid are know. After definition of the material constant water repellecy – a review”, Soil & Water research 3 (2008) S21.
the contact angle measurement with the liquid of interested [5] M. Inagaki, M. Toyota, N. Iwashita, Y. Nishi and H. Konno, “Exfoliated
can be done. A powder packing method has to be repeatable graphite for spiller heavy oil recovery”, Carbon science 2 (2001) 1.
and carefully controlled since it is not possible to measure the [6] Y. Nishi, N. Iwashita, Y. Sawada and M. Inagaki, “Sorption kinetics of heavy
material constant and then re-use the same powder for actual oil into porous carbon”, Water research 36 (2002) 5029.
contact angle measurement. A typical powder wettability curve is
presented in Figure 2. Washburn method has also been utilized to
study of other materials like fabrics [3], soil [4] and carbon fibers
[5,6].

E-mail:info@biolinscientific.com
biolinscientific.com
Attension TN 5 [2]

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