Interfacial tension measurements using a new axisymmetric drop/bubble shape technique.

This paper introduces a new mathematical model that is used to compute either the interfacial tension of quiescent axisymmetric pendant/sessile drops and pendant/captive bubbles. This model consists of the Young-Laplace equation, that describes interface shape, together with suitable boundary conditions that guarantee a prescribed volume of drops/bubbles and a fixed position in the capillary. In order to solve the problem numerically, the Young-Laplace equation is discretized by using numerical differentiation and the numerical solutions are obtained applying the well-know Newton method. The paper contains a validation of the new methodology presented for what theoretical bubble/drops are used. Finally, some numerical results are presented for both drops and bubbles of water as well as several surfactant solutions to demonstrate the applicability, versatility and reproducibility of the proposed methodology.

Effect of Hydrofluoric Acid Etching Time on Titanium Topography, Chemistry, Wettability, and Cell Adhesion.

Titanium implant surface etching has proven an effective method to enhance cell attachment. Despite the frequent use of hydrofluoric (HF) acid, many questions remain unresolved, including the optimal etching time and its effect on surface and biological properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of HF acid etching time on Ti topography, surface chemistry, wettability, and cell adhesion. These data are useful to design improved acid treatment and obtain an improved cell response. The surface topography, chemistry, dynamic wetting, and cell adhesiveness of polished Ti surfaces were evaluated after treatment with HF acid solution for 0, 2; 3, 5, 7, or 10 min, revealing a time-dependent effect of HF acid on their topography, chemistry, and wetting. Roughness and wetting increased with longer etching time except at 10 min, when roughness increased but wetness decreased. Skewness became negative after etching and kurtosis tended to 3 with longer etching time. Highest cell adhesion was achieved after 5-7 min of etching time. Wetting and cell adhesion were reduced on the highly rough surfaces obtained after 10-min etching time.

Topographic characterisation of dental implants for commercial use.

BACKGROUND: To characterize the surface topography of several dental implants for commercial use. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Dental implants analyzed were Certain (Biomet 3i), Tissue Level (Straumann), Interna (BTI), MG-InHex (MozoGrau), SPI (Alphabio) and Hikelt (Bioner). Surface topography was ascertained using a confocal microscope with white light. Roughness parameters obtained were: Ra, Rq, Rv, Rp, Rt, Rsk and Rku. The results were analysed using single-factor ANOVA and Student-Neuman-Keuls (p<0.05) tests. RESULTS: Certain and Hikelt obtained the highest Ra and Rq scores, followed by Tissue Level. Interna and SPI obtained lower scores, and MG-InHex obtained the lowest score. Rv scores followed the same trend. Certain obtained the highest Rp score, followed by SPI and Hikelt, then Interna and Tissue Level. MG-InHex obtained the lowest scores. Certain obtained the highest Rt score, followed by Interna and Hikelt, then SPI and Tissue Level. The lowest scores were for MG-InHex. Rsk was negative (punctured surface) in the MG-InHex, SPI and Tissue Level systems, and positive (pointed surface) in the other systems. Rku was higher than 3 (Leptokurtic) in Tissue Level, Interna, MG-InHex and SPI, and lower than 3 (Platykurtic) in Certain and Hikelt. CONCLUSIONS: The type of implant determines surface topography, and there are differences in the roughness parameters of the various makes of implants for clinical use.

Effect of root planing on surface topography: an in-vivo randomized experimental trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The root surface topography exerts a major influence on clinical attachment and bacterial recolonization after root planing. In-vitro topographic studies have yielded variable results, and clinical studies are necessary to compare root surface topography after planing with current ultrasonic devices and with traditional manual instrumentation. The aim of this study was to compare the topography of untreated single-rooted teeth planed in vivo with a curette, a piezoelectric ultrasonic (PU) scraper or a vertically oscillating ultrasonic (VOU) scraper. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a randomized experimental trial of 19 patients, 44 single-rooted teeth were randomly assigned to one of four groups for: no treatment; manual root planing with a curette; root planing with a PU scraper; or root planing with a VOU scraper. Post-treatment, the teeth were extracted and their topography was analyzed in 124 observations with white-light confocal microscopy, measuring the roughness parameters arithmetic average height, root-mean-square roughness, maximum height of peaks, maximum depth of valleys, absolute height, skewness and kurtosis. RESULTS: The roughness values arithmetic average height and root-mean-square roughness were similar after each treatment and lower than after no treatment ( p < 0.05). Absolute height was lower in the VOU group than in the untreated ( p = 0.0026) and PU (p = 0.045) groups. Surface morphology was similar after the three treatments and was less irregular than in the untreated group. Values for the remaining roughness parameters were similar among all treatment groups ( p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both ultrasonic devices reduce the roughness, producing a similar topography to that observed after manual instrumentation with a curette, to which they appear to represent a valid alternative.

Bile salts at the air-water interface: adsorption and desorption.

Bile salts (BS) are bio-surfactants which constitute a vital component in the process of fat digestion. Despite the importance of the interfacial properties in their biological role, these have been scarcely studied in the literature. In this work, we present the adsorption-desorption profiles of two BS (NaTC and NaGDC) including dilatational rheology. Findings from this study reveal very different surface properties of NaTC and NaGDC which originate from different complexation properties relevant to the digestion process. Dynamic adsorption curves show higher adsorption rates for NaTC and suggest the existence of various conformational regimes in contrast to NaGDC which presents only one conformational regime. This is corroborated by analysis of the adsorption isotherms and more in detail by the rheological behaviour. Accordingly, the dilatational response at 1Hz displays two maxima of the dilatational modulus for NaTC as a function of bulk concentration, in contrast to NaGDC which displays only one maximum. The desorption profiles reveal that NaTC adopts an irreversibly adsorbed form at high surface coverage whereas NaGDC fully desorbs from the surface within the whole range of concentrations used. Analysis of the adsorption-desorption profiles provides new insight into the surface properties of BS, suggesting a surface complexation of NaTC. This knowledge can be useful since through interfacial engineering we might control the extent of lipolysis providing the basis for the rational design of food products with tailored digestibility.

Equilibrium contact angle or the most-stable contact angle?

It is well-established that the equilibrium contact angle in a thermodynamic framework is an "unattainable" contact angle. Instead, the most-stable contact angle obtained from mechanical stimuli of the system is indeed experimentally accessible. Monitoring the susceptibility of a sessile drop to a mechanical stimulus enables to identify the most stable drop configuration within the practical range of contact angle hysteresis. Two different stimuli may be used with sessile drops: mechanical vibration and tilting. The most stable drop against vibration should reveal the changeless contact angle but against the gravity force, it should reveal the highest resistance to slide down. After the corresponding mechanical stimulus, once the excited drop configuration is examined, the focus will be on the contact angle of the initial drop configuration. This methodology needs to map significantly the static drop configurations with different stable contact angles. The most-stable contact angle, together with the advancing and receding contact angles, completes the description of physically realizable configurations of a solid-liquid system. Since the most-stable contact angle is energetically significant, it may be used in the Wenzel, Cassie or Cassie-Baxter equations accordingly or for the surface energy evaluation.

Comparison of sessile drop and captive bubble methods on rough homogeneous surfaces: a numerical study.

Quasi-static experiments using sessile drops and captive bubbles are the most employed methods for measuring advancing and receding contact angles on real surfaces. These observable contact angles are the most easily accessible and reproducible. However, some properties of practical surfaces induce certain phenomena that cause a built-in uncertainty in the estimation of advancing and receding contact angles. These phenomena are well known in surface thermodynamics as stick-slip phenomena. Following the work of Marmur (Marmur, A. Colloids Surf., A 1998, 136, 209-215), where the stick-slip effects were studied with regard to sessile drops and captive bubbles on heterogeneous surfaces, we developed a novel extension of this study by adding the effects of roughness to both methods for contact angle measurement. We found that the symmetry between the surface roughness problem and the chemical heterogeneity problem breaks down for drops and bubbles subjected to stick-slip effects.

Comparison of the relaxation of sessile drops driven by harmonic and stochastic mechanical excitations.

Currently, there is no conclusive evidence regarding the global equilibrium condition of vibrated drops. However, it is well-known that vibration of sessile drops effectively reduces the contact angle hysteresis. In this work, applying a recent methodology for evaluating the most-stable contact angle, we examined the impact of the type of excitation signal (random signal versus periodical signal) on the values of the most-stable contact angle for polymer surfaces. Using harmonic signals, the oscillation frequency affected the postvibration contact angle. Instead, the white noise signal enabled sessile drops to relax regardless of their initial configuration. In spite of that, the values of most-stable contact angle obtained with different signals mostly agreed. We concluded that not only the amount of relaxation can be important for relaxing a sessile drop but also the rate of relaxation. Together with receding contact angle, most-stable contact angle, measured with the proposed methodology, was able to capture the thermodynamic changes of "wetted" polymer surfaces.

Wetting on axially-patterned heterogeneous surfaces.

Contact angle variability, leading to errors in interpretation, arises from various sources. Contact angle hysteresis (history-dependent wetting) and contact angle multiplicity (corrugation of three-phase contact line) are irrespectively the most frequent causes of this uncertainty. Secondary effects also derived from the distribution of chemical defects on solid surfaces, and so due to the existence of boundaries, are the known "stick/jump-slip" phenomena. Currently, the underlying mechanisms in contact angle hysteresis and their connection to "stick/jump-slip" effects and the prediction of thermodynamic contact angle are not fully understood. In this study, axial models of smooth heterogeneous surface were chosen in order to mitigate contact angle multiplicity. For each axial pattern, advancing, receding and equilibrium contact angles were predicted from the local minima location of the system free energy. A heuristic model, based on the local Young equation for spherical drops on patch-wise axial patterns, was fruitfully tested from the results of free-energy minimization. Despite the very simplistic surface model chosen in this study, it allowed clarifying concepts usually misleading in wetting phenomena.

Imaging techniques applied to characterize bitumen and bituminous emulsions.

The purpose of this article is to present some important advances in the imaging techniques currently used in the characterization of bitumen and bituminous emulsions. Bitumen exhibits some properties, such as a black colour and a reflecting surface at rest, which permit the use of optical techniques to study the macroscopic behaviour of asphalt mixes in the cold mix technology based on emulsion use. Imaging techniques allow monitoring in situ the bitumen thermal sensitivity as well as the complex phenomenon of emulsion breaking. Evaporation-driven breaking was evaluated from the shape of evaporating emulsion drops deposited onto non-porous and hydrophobic substrates. To describe the breaking kinetics, top-view images of a drying emulsion drop placed on an aggregate sheet were acquired and processed properly. We can conclude that computer-aided image analysis in road pavement engineering can elucidate the mechanism of breaking and curing of bituminous emulsion.

Surface characterization of human serum albumin and sodium perfluorooctanoate mixed solutions by pendant drop tensiometry and circular dichroism.

The interfacial behavior of mixed human serum albumin (HSA)/sodium perfluorooctanoate (C8FONa) solutions is examined by using two experimental techniques, pendant drop tensiometry and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Through the analysis of the surface tension of the mixed solutions, surface competitive adsorption at the air-water interface between C8FONa and HSA is detected. The dynamic adsorption curves exhibit the distinct regimes in their time-dependent surface tension. The nature of these regimes is further analyzed in terms of the variation of the molecules surface areas. As a consequence, a compact and dense structure was formed where protein molecules were interconnected and overlapped. Thus, a reduction of the area occupied per molecule from 100 to 0.2 nm(2) is interpreted as a gel-like structure at the surface. The presence of the surfactant seems to favor the formation of this interfacial structure. Finally, measurements of circular dichroism suggests a compaction of the protein due to the association with the surfactant given by an increase of alpha-helix structure in the complexes as compared to that of pure protein.

Streaming current, permeability, and microelectrophoresis of polystyrene latices in methanol-ethanol mixtures.

The influence of the solvent (methanol-ethanol mixtures) on the electrokinetic behavior of polystyrene latices with sulfate groups was studied (methanol content was increased by 0.2 at a constant KBr concentration of 1 mM). Viscosity, density, and dielectric constant (eta, rho, and epsilon) were determined at experimental conditions. Two latices (with different surface charge densities and sizes) were used. Electrophoresis measurements were used for dilute dispersions. Streaming current and hydrodynamic permeability were measured for porous plugs. Linear trends in the electrokinetic measurements were observed in the whole molar fraction range. The experimental data obtained from different techniques allow determining the zeta potential according to a well-established classical relationship. The results obtained were analyzed on the basis of the solvent mixture properties and the electrical interface behavior. In addition, permeability data provided valuable information to interpret effects at the solid-liquid interface of the porous plug.

Development of a constant surface pressure penetration langmuir balance based on axisymmetric drop shape analysis.

A new constant pressure pendant-drop penetration surface balance has been developed combining a pendant-drop surface balance, a rapid-subphase-exchange technique, and a fuzzy logic control algorithm. Beside the determination of insoluble monolayer compression-expansion isotherms, it allows performance of noninvasive kinetic studies of the adsorption of surfactants added to the new subphase onto the free surface and of the adsorption/penetration/reaction of the former onto/into/with surface layers, respectively. The interfacial pressure pi is a fundamental parameter in these studies: by working at constant pi one controls the height of the energy barrier to adsorption/penetration and can select different regimes and steps of the adsorption/penetration process. In our device a solution drop is formed at the tip of a coaxial double capillary, connected to a double microinjector. Drop profiles are extracted from digital drop micrographs and fitted to the equation of capillarity, yielding pi, the drop volume V, and the interfacial area A. pi is varied changing V (and hence A) with the microinjector. Control is based on a case-adaptable modulated fuzzy-logic PID algorithm able to maintain constant pi (or A) under a wide range of experimental conditions. The drop subphase liquid can be exchanged quantitatively by the coaxial capillaries. The adsorption/penetration/reaction kinetics at constant pi are then studied monitoring A(t), i.e., determining the relative area change necessary at each instant to compensate the pressure variation due to the interaction of the surfactant in the subsurface with the surface layer. A fully Windows-integrated program manages the whole setup. Examples of experimental protein adsorption and monolayer penetration kinetics are presented.

Influence of self-etching primer on the resin adhesion to enamel and dentin.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the shear bond strength of resin-based composite to dentin and enamel using three adhesive systems, two of them containing self-etchant primers. Wettability (contact angle measurements) of the primers of these three adhesive systems was also evaluated on superficial and deep dentin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Contact angle measurements were performed on 30 caries-free extracted human third molars; specimens were sectioned parallel to the occlusal surface to expose superficial and deep dentin. Dentin was ground flat (600-grit SiC) under water to provide uniform surfaces. Contact angle measurements were performed to assess wettability using the Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis technique. In order to test the enamel bond strength, 30 extracted bovine incisors were embedded in acrylic resin and ground flat to 800-grit. The adhesives and composite resins were applied following the manufacturers' instructions. All the specimens were stored in water for 24 hrs at 37 degrees C and thermocycled (500x). Shear bond strengths were determined using a universal testing machine and the Watanabe device. For dentin bond strength testing, superficial and deep dentin was exposed in 60 third molars, by sectioning the occlusal surface immediately under the enamel-dentin junction or close to the pulp chamber. After grinding (500 grit SiC), the dentin surfaces were assigned to three groups: (1) Clearfil SE Bond (CSEB)/Clearfil AP-X resin composite. (2) Etch & Prime (E&P)/Degufill mineral resin composite. (3) Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus (SBMP)/Z100 resin composite. RESULTS: One-way ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls multiple comparisons tests showed that no differences were found between contact angles on superficial and deep dentin. CSEB and E&P, without significant differences between them, had greater mean contact angle than SBMP. On enamel, Etch & Prime resulted in the lowest bond strength, but no significant differences existed with Scotchbond Multi-Purpose were found. On dentin, Clearfil SE Bond resulted in the significantly highest bond strength; no significant differences exist between Etch & Prime and Scotchbond Multi-Purpose.

Dentin wetting by four adhesive systems.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the dentin wetting by four adhesive systems and to relate the wetting properties with the adhesive efficiency. METHODS: Scotch Bond Multipurpose Plus (3M), Syntac Single-Component (Vivadent), One-Step (Bisco) and Heliobond (Vivadent) were used. The substrate was superficial and deep human dentin. Roughness and water contact angle were measured before and after acid etching. Dentin wetting by resins was studied by contact angle measurements as a function of time to evaluate the spreading time. The shear bond strength was evaluated following a single plane method, and the microleakage was evaluated in Class V cavities. RESULTS: Acid etching increased dentin roughness and wettability and no differences were found between acids tested. Dentin wetting and roughness was higher on deep dentin. Dentin wetting and shear bond strength of resins was similar except for Heliobond that displayed the lowest value. Microleakage was higher on the gingival wall, and the leaking was lowest for Scotch Bond Multipurpose Plus, and maximum for Heliobond. The spreading time exceeded 30s with water-based and hydrophobic adhesives, and was lower with an acetone-based adhesive. Dentin depth had some influence on contact angle and shear bond strength: contact angles obtained with SBMP and One-Step were higher on superficial dentin, and shear bond strength for One-Step was higher on superficial dentin. Dentin wetting by resins could be correlated to shear bond strength and microleakage. SIGNIFICANCE: Dentin acid etching with different conditioners promotes similar roughness and wetting changes. On a similar substrate, the adhesion depends on the chemical and wetting characteristics of resins.

Interactions, desorption and mixing thermodynamics in mixed monolayers of beta-lactoglobulin and bovine serum albumin.

The interactions between milk proteins, beta-Lactoglobulin (beta-Lg) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), at the air-water interface have been evaluated. The surface pressure (pi), molecular area (a) isotherms were obtained by compression of the monolayers at different pH and temperature. In the method used to calculate the interactions, the desorbed segments of the proteins into the aqueous subphase have been considered. Earlier, the desorbed segments have been estimated from the compressibility factor, z, as a function of the surface pressure (virial state equation). The main conclusion from this study is that for biopolymers it is not possible to apply only the mixing thermodynamics to evaluate the intermolecular forces. It is necessary to include the desorption phenomenon. From these results, we can conclude that the main interaction between both proteins is of electrostatic character.

Effect of acid etching and collagen removal on dentin wettability and roughness.

It was recently reported that removal of the collagen network from etched dentin does not affect dentin bond strengths. The aim of this study was to determine if the removal of the collagen fibers results in changes in dentin roughness and wettability. Twenty cary-free extracted human third molars were sectioned parallel to the occlusal surface to expose either superficial or deep dentin. Dentin was ground flat through 600-grit SiC abrasive paper under water to provide uniform surfaces. Observed contact angle measurements were performed to assess wettability by using the axisymmetric drop shape analysis technique using water and a water-based primer. Average roughness was determined with a profilometer. The specimens were analyzed just after being ground, after etching with 35% H(3)PO(4) gel for 15 s, and after etching and deproteinization with 5% NaOCl for 2 min. Data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA and Newman-Keuls multiple comparison t test procedure. Etching resulted in an increase in surface roughness and dentin wettability. For deep dentin, collagen removal did not influence the average roughness, but it resulted in a significantly greater degree of wettability. The degree of wettability for deep dentin was greater than for superficial dentin.

Influence of enamel prophylaxis on wettability of three commercially available orthophosphoric acids.

An in vitro study was performed to assess the wettability of orthophosphoric acid after different procedures for cleaning the enamel surface. Ninety noncarious third molars were randomly distributed into three groups with different enamel surface treatments: an air-powder polisher unit, prophylaxis pastes, and no enamel surface cleaning. Three commercially available orthophosphoric acids were used, and there were 10 teeth in each group. Acid viscosity values and contact-angle measurements were obtained. Each enamel surface was also examined with the scanning electron microscope. Results suggested that the surface treatment with which the best spreading of the acid solution was attained was the air-powder polisher. The least spreading of the acid was obtained with prophylaxis pastes, in which contact angles were even higher than those obtained on the untreated enamel surface. The 3M acid solution was the one that showed the best spreading onto the enamel surface.