Question 53 (Textile Engineering & Fibre Science)
Determine the correctness or otherwise of the following statements
[p] The contact angle 
is indicative of the wettability of a textile surface by a liquid
[q] Values of 
indicate poor wetting surfaces
| (A) | Both [p] and [q] are equal |
| (B) | Both [p] and [q] are false |
| (C) | [p] is true but [q] is false |
| (D) | [p] is false but [q] is true |
Answer / Solution
Frequently Asked Questions | FAQs
What is wettability a function of?
Wettability is a measure of the ability of a liquid to spread over or penetrate a solid surface. The degree of wettability is influenced by several factors, including:
Surface tension of the liquid: A liquid with lower surface tension will have better wettability, as it will be more likely to spread over the solid surface.
Surface energy of the solid: A solid surface with higher surface energy will have better wettability, as it will be more attractive to the liquid molecules.
Chemical composition of the solid surface: The chemical composition of the solid surface can affect its wettability. For example, a hydrophilic surface (one that is attracted to water) will have better wettability with water than a hydrophobic surface (one that repels water).
Roughness of the solid surface: A rough surface will have better wettability than a smooth surface, as there will be more points of contact between the liquid and solid.
Temperature and pressure: Higher temperatures and pressures can improve wettability by increasing the mobility of the liquid molecules and reducing the resistance to penetration.
In general, wettability is a function of the intermolecular forces between the liquid and solid surfaces, and can be influenced by a wide range of factors. Understanding the factors that affect wettability is important in many areas of science and engineering, including materials science, surface chemistry, and fluid mechanics.