Date of Thesis
2015
Description
Accurate measurements of particle surface tension are required for models concerning atmospheric aerosol nucleation and activation. However, it is difficult to collect sufficiently large volumes of atmospheric aerosol for use in typical instruments that measure surface tension, such as goniometers or Wilhelmy plates. In this work, a method that measures the surface tension of collected liquid nanoparticles using atomic force microscopy is presented. A film of particles is collected via impaction and probed using nanoneedle tips with the atomic force microscope (AFM). This micro-Wilhelmy method allows for direct measurements of surface tension of small amounts of sample. The micro-Wilhelmy method was verified using liquids whose surface tensions were known. Particles of oxidized ¿-pinene were then produced, collected, and analyzed using this method. Preliminary results show that oxidized ¿-pinene particles formed in dry conditions have a surface tension similar to that of pure ¿-pinene, and particles formed in wet conditions have a surface tension that is significantly higher.
Keywords
Atmospheric aerosol, Surface tension, Atomic force, Microscope
Access Type
Masters Thesis
Degree Type
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering
Major
Chemical Engineering
First Advisor
Timothy M. Raymond
Recommended Citation
Hritz, Andrew Donald, "Measuring Surface Tension of Secondary Atmospheric Aerosols using Atomic Force Microscopy" (2015). Master’s Theses. 141.
https://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/masters_theses/141