Surface Science Blog

What are superhydrophobic surfaces?

Susanna Laurén — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 13:30:00 GMT

Superhydrophobicity and superhydrophobic surfaces have become a buzz word used to describe all kinds of surfaces with high wettability. In the internet, you can find numerous examples of coatings and materials claimed to be superhydrophobic. Some of them probably are but many are just hydrophobic.

How to characterize biomolecular interactions with QCM-D

malin.edvardsson@biolinscientific.com (Malin Edvardsson) — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 13:30:00 GMT

In areas ranging from biochemistry and biotechnology to medicine and nanotoxicology, biomolecular interactions are explored both to gain increased knowledge and understanding of biological systems and functions, and to design products such as pharmaceuticals, sensors and materials. Here we present how biomolecular interactions can be analyzed using QSense^®QCM-D technology and what information QCM-D measurements offer.

Surface free energy measurements in practice

Susanna Laurén — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 13:30:00 GMT

Surface free energy is measured to get better understanding of the chemical properties of your surface. Surface free energy measurement is easily done with the help of the modern instruments available. By following the three steps described below, you get valuable information on your surface in matter of minutes.

How are QCM results influenced by the lateral distribution of the measured layer?

Michael Rodal, PhD — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 13:30:00 GMT

In the context of QCM-data quantification, it is repeatedly stated that the layer at the surface should be evenly distributed over the sensor surface. Why is this so often stressed, and what will the consequence be if it is not fulfilled? Here we explain the reasoning behind the uniformity requirement and explain possible consequences if it is not fulfilled.

Can Surface Science facilitate a more sustainable energy system?

kasemo@chalmers.se (Prof. Bengt Kasemo) — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 13:40:00 GMT

We are surrounded by surfaces. Processes and interactions taking place at these surfaces affect a multitude of aspects of our lives. Even in the combat of a macroscopic phenomenon, such as climate change and a sustainable energy system, surface properties and processes taking place both at the macro- and the nanoscale, have important roles to play.

Contact angle measurements to evaluate plasma treatment efficiency

Susanna Laurén — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 13:30:00 GMT

Plasma treatment is a common process for treating various materials prior to coating, printing or gluing. One of the main purposes of the plasma treatment is to improve the wettability of the material as good wettability is required in all the aforementioned processes. As more products rely on plastics, from medical devices to automobile bumpers, this concept has grown more important since plastics generally exhibit poor wettability for many liquids. This is due to the low surface free energy of many plastics. Plasma treatment is a safe and effective technique for increasing the wettability without harmful gases or high temperatures, and complex geometries can be easily treated.

What is Biocompatibility?

kasemo@chalmers.se (Prof. Bengt Kasemo) — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 13:30:00 GMT

In biomaterials literature, one often meets the term biocompatibility. The definition is, however, somewhat vague and ambiguities about what biocompatibility is are common. So, how is biocompatibility defined and what does this property entail?

Surface interactions at Biomaterials and Implants

malin.edvardsson@biolinscientific.com (Malin Edvardsson) — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 13:30:00 GMT

There are plenty of recordings where foreign materials have been embedded in the tissue of living human beings. What makes an implant integrate successfully? And how come some materials integrate while other materials can smoothly be removed from the body even after a longer period of contact or insertion?

Contact angle measurements on superhydrophobic surfaces in practice

Susanna Laurén — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 13:30:00 GMT

Different types of superhydrophobic, i.e. water repellent, surfaces have gained a lot of attention due to their various application possibilities. Contact angle measurements have been used to characterize these surfaces as high static contact angles (> 150°) and low contact angle hysteresis (< 10°) are decided threshold values. There are three contact angle measurement methods that can be utilized when superhydrophobic surfaces are characterized; static, advancing and receding and roll-off angle.

How to reveal the soil removal efficiency already during the cleaning test

eva.ekerot@biolinscientific.com (Eva Ekerot) — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 13:30:00 GMT

One way to assess the soil removal efficiency of a surfactant or formulation is to run a cleaning test of a soiled surface and thereafter run an analysis of the cleaning result. It is however possible to shorten this evaluation process by combining these two steps and run them simultaneously. Here we show you how.