The Contact Angles of Quartz and Caustic Dolomite Powders after Mechano-Magnetic Treatment

Abstract

The determination of the surface free energy (SFE) is currently achieved using an instrumental method, one of which is «sessile drop». The surface free energy of quartz and caustic dolomite powders was defined before and after mechano-magnetic activation in the Vortex layer device. Free surface energy was identified by the well-known models proposed by the Owens–Wendt–Rabel–Kaelble (OWRK) and Van Oss–Chaudhury–Good (VOCG). The determination of the surface free energy (SFE) based on the presented model provides a good convergence: due to experimental assumptions, the deviation in calculation results is 14–16%. It was shown that mechano-magnetic treatment increased the adhesion of quartz powder by 86% (from 73 to 136 J/m2) and caustic dolomite by 217% (from 884 to 2800 J/m2). The mechano-magnetic treatment of study materials can significantly improve the interaction of the liquid with solid. This is evident from comparison of two attributes: the amount of change of specific interphase surface energy of a solid at the boundary with the gas per to change of specific surface of the powder and the change in the cosine of contact wetting angle per to a change in specific surface of the powder. This means the first value that represents the intensity of the interaction between liquids and solids multiplу greater than an integral characteristic of the interaction at the boundary of three phases. Such changes in geometric characteristics and surface properties are effective factors in structure formation control, especially hydration hardening.