Variation Of Surface Roughness Research Articles

The Study on Corrosion Resistance of Ti-6Al-4V ELI Alloy with Varying Surface Roughness in Hydrofluoric Acid Solution

The corrosion resistance of titanium alloy poses a crucial challenge, significantly affecting its prospect for service and application. The present study aimed to investigate the corrosion resistance of Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloys with varying surface roughness in hydrofluoric acid solution, in order to assess the influence of roughness on their corrosion resistance performance. The weight loss percentage, surface morphology evolution, and roughness variation of Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloys before and after exposure to hydrofluoric acid corrosion were characterized. While the weight loss and weight loss percentage of the Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy increased with prolonged corrosion, the overall weight loss rate decreased. The accumulation of TiF3 phases and depletion of the Ti-6Al-4V ELI matrix mutually led to the alterations of the surface roughness. Due to the inability to prevent fluoride ions from contacting with the Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy, continuous corrosion occurred in hydrofluoric acid. Based on these experimental results and analysis, the corrosion mechanism of the Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy corroded by hydrofluoric acid solution was elucidated. Furthermore, an analysis was conducted to explore the influence of corrosion time on mechanical properties by analyzing the decay in compressive properties of the Ti-6Al-4V ELI titanium alloy after hydrofluoric acid corrosion treatment. The bearing capacity of the Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy deteriorated over the corrosion time.

Build Plate Roughness Study on Part Bonding for the Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process

AbstractAdditive manufacturing (AM) processes have emerged as valuable partners in conventional manufacturing, facilitating the production of low-batch components with complex geometries across diverse industries. However, despite ongoing advancements in various AM technologies, consistently achieving reliable and defect-free components remains a challenge. In powder metal AM, the use of substrates or build plates to support the entire build plays a crucial role in ensuring build stability. Build plate preparation typically involves surface grinding followed by finishing sanding, leading to variations in surface roughness between different manufacturing runs. This study aimed to elucidate the bonding characteristics at the build plate-part interface by investigating the porosity and build plate-part strength at different substrate surface roughness. To this end, a multi-roughness build plate was designed and fabricated for tensile testing via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) processing of upright specimens. The specimens were subjected to computed tomography (CT) scans for porosity assessment, followed by tensile tests to evaluate the mechanical performance at the build plate-part interface (bp-p). CT inspection revealed no porosity at the interface for any roughness level. Furthermore, analysis of the tensile behavior in relation to substrate roughness (Ra values of 0.8 μm, 1.4 μm, 3.5 μm, and 4.4 μm) did not reveal statistically significant differences.

Friction injury of the central vein caused by catheter for hemodialysis: an in vitro study

Vascular injury such as central venous stenosis (CVS) is a common complication in hemodialysis patients with central venous catheters (CVCs), yet the impact of the microstructure and partial physic characteristics of catheter surface on the chronic injury of central vein has not been elucidated. In this study, the microscopic morphology of tips and bodies of six different brands of polyurethane CVCs was observed and their roughness was assessed. Subsequently, an in vitro model was established to measure the coefficients of friction (COF) between CVCs (tips and bodies) and the vena cava intima of Japanese rabbits under the same condition in a linear reciprocating mode, and changes in the intima of vessels after friction were observed. The study found that there was a significant variation in surface roughness among different brands of CVCs (tips P < 0.001, bodies P = 0.02), and the COF was positively correlated with the catheter surface roughness (tips P = 0.005, R = 0.945, bodies P = 0.01, R = 0.909). Besides, the endovascular roughness increased after friction. These findings suggest that the high roughness surface of CVCs may cause chronic mechanical friction injury to the central venous intima, which is one of the potential factors leading to CVS or occlusion. This provides a breakthrough for reducing complications, improving patient prognosis, and advancing catheter surface lubrication technology.

Corrosion-induced changes in surface properties and roughness of orthodontic wires

This study aimed to investigate the surface free energy and surface roughness (SR) of metallic alloys under the influence of acid solutions. The experiment involved the use of 270 rectangular wire samples measuring 0.019 × 0.025-in. These samples were sourced from 3 different commercial brands: Dentsply GAC, American Orthodontics, and Orthoclassic. This invitro study categorized the samples into 3 groups based on the solutions employed: deionized water, citric acid, and phosphoric acid. Each group consisted of 90 samples, with 30 samples representing each type of alloy-stainless steel, nickel-titanium, and titanium molybdenum alloy (TMA). The wire segments were immersed in their respective solutions for 72 hours at a controlled temperature of 37°C, with continuous orbital agitation at 130 rpm. After the immersion period, the study analyzed both surface free energy and SR. The mean values obtained were subjected to an analysis of variance at a significance level of 5%. All alloys displayed hydrophobic behavior, as indicated by interaction free energy values<0. In acidic environments (phosphoric acid and citric acid), significant differences were observed among different brands and alloys, affecting surface energy and interaction free energy. Variations in SR among metallic alloys included steel with the lowest SR variations, followed by nickel-titanium and TMA. Notably, the TMA alloy stood out with significantly higher surface energy compared with that of the other alloys (P<0.001). In this study, all examined alloys demonstrated a hydrophobic nature, suggesting a limited attraction to water. Notably, TMA exhibited the least hydrophobic behavior among the alloys studied. However, when exposed to citric acid, TMA displayed the most substantial alterations in its surface properties. These results underscored the significance of accounting for the distinctive properties of each alloy and their responses to diverse challenges, such as exposure to acidic solutions, during the selection of orthodontic wires for orthodontics treatment.

Effect of Surface Roughness and Chemical Composition of Metastable Austenitic Stainless Steels on Electrochemical Polishing-Induced Martensitic Transformation

Herein, we analyzed the martensitic transformation kinetics during electrochemical polishing (EP) for stainless steel specimens with varying surface roughness and austenite stability. Martensite fraction measurement demonstrated that specimens with higher surface roughness and lower austenite stability exhibited relatively higher levels of martensitic transformation. To understand these phase transformation characteristics, the amount of charge build-up on the specimen surface during EP was calculated using COMSOL Multiphysics simulations for specimens with different surface roughness. The effect of charge build-up-induced stress was analyzed using previously published first-principles calculations. We found that specimens with higher surface roughness accumulated more charge build-up, resulting in greater stress and a martensitic transformation driving force. Furthermore, the critical energy required for the martensitic transformation was calculated using Thermo-Calc for specimens with different austenite stabilities. We demonstrated that the martensitic transformation kinetics during EP could be explained in terms of austenite stability, similar to the stress-induced martensitic transformation.Graphical

Wind- and rain-driven macroplastic mobilization and transport on land

Wind and rain are considered main drivers for mobilization and transport of macroplastics on land, yet there is a lack of empirical data that quantifies this. We present lab experiment results on land-based macroplastic mobilization and transport. We placed four types of macroplastics on terrains with varying surface roughness and slope angles, and exposed them to changing wind speeds and rain intensities. In general, we find that the mobilization probability and transport velocity of macroplastics strongly depend on the combination of the terrain characteristics and material properties. At Beaufort 3, 100% of the plastic bags were mobilized, whereas for the other plastic types less than 50% were mobilized. We found 1.4 (grass) to 5 times (paved surface) higher mobilization probabilities on land than assumed by existing plastic transport models. Macroplastic transport velocities were positively correlated with wind speed, but not with rain intensity. This suggests that macroplastics are not transported on land by rain unless surface runoff develops that can bring the macroplastics afloat. Macroplastic transport velocities were, driven by wind, 1.9 and, driven by rain, 4.9 times faster on paved surfaces than on grass. This study enhances our understanding of land-based macroplastic transport and provides an empirical basis for models.

Analysis of flux footprints in fragmented, heterogeneous croplands

An accurate quantification of fluxes from heterogeneous sites and further bifurcation into contributing homogeneous fluxes is an active field of research. Among such sites, fragmented croplands with varying surface roughness characteristics pose formidable challenges for footprint analysis. We conducted two flux monitoring experiments in fragmented croplands characterized by two dissimilar surfaces with objectives to: (i) evaluate the performance of two analytical footprint models in heterogeneous canopy considering aggregated roughness parameters and (ii) analyze the contribution of fluxes from individual surfaces under changing wind speed. A set of three eddy covariance (EC) towers (one each capturing the homogenous fluxes from individual surfaces and a third, high tower capturing the heterogeneous mixed fluxes) was used for method validation. High-quality EC fluxes that fulfill stationarity and internal turbulence tests were analyzed considering daytime, unstable conditions. In the first experiment, source area contribution from a surface is gradually reduced by progressive cut, and its effect on high-tower flux measurements is analyzed. Two footprint models (Kormann and Meixner ‘KM’; analytical solution to Lagrangian model ‘FFP’) with modified surface roughness parameters were applied under changing source area contributions. FFP model has consistently over predicted the footprints (RMSEFFP = 0.31 m−1, PBIASFFP = 19.00), whereas KM model prediction was gradually changed from over prediction to under prediction towards higher upwind distances (RMSEKM = 0.02 m−1, PBIASKM = 8.50). Sensitivity analysis revealed that the models are more sensitive to turbulent conditions than surface characteristics. This motivated to conduct the second experiment, where the fractional contribution of individual surfaces (α and β) to the heterogeneous fluxes measured by the high tower (T3) was estimated using the principle of superposition (FT3 = α FT1 + β FT2). Results showed that α and β are dynamic during daylight hours and strongly depend on mean wind speed (U) and friction velocity (u*). The contribution of fluxes from adjoining fields [1 − (α + β)] is significant beyond 80% isopleth. Our findings provide guidelines for future analysis of fluxes in heterogeneous, fragmented croplands.

Investigation of the Surface Roughness and Hardness of Different Denture Teeth Materials: An In vitro Study

ABSTRACT Background: Surface roughness and hardness are key factors that influence the clinical performance and durability of denture teeth. Understanding variations in these properties among different denture teeth materials can assist in selecting the most suitable materials for optimal patient outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the surface roughness and hardness of four commonly used denture teeth materials: acrylic resin, composite resin, porcelain, and nanohybrid composite. Materials and Methods: Ten specimens were prepared for each denture teeth material, resulting in a total of 40 specimens. Surface roughness was assessed using a profilometer, and measurements were recorded in micrometers (μm). Hardness was determined using a Vickers hardness tester, and results were expressed as Vickers hardness numbers (VHN). The surface roughness and hardness data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests (e.g., analysis of variance), with significance set at P &lt; 0.05. Results: The results revealed significant differences in both surface roughness and hardness among the different denture teeth materials (P &lt; 0.05). Acrylic resin exhibited the highest surface roughness (mean ± standard deviation: 3.45 ± 0.78 μm) and the lowest hardness (mean ± standard deviation: 45.6 ± 2.3 VHN). Composite resin demonstrated intermediate values of surface roughness (mean ± standard deviation: 1.87 ± 0.54 μm) and hardness (mean ± standard deviation: 65.2 ± 3.9 VHN). Porcelain demonstrated the smoothest surface (mean ± standard deviation: 0.94 ± 0.28 μm) and the highest hardness (mean ± standard deviation: 78.5 ± 4.1 VHN). Nanohybrid composite displayed surface roughness and hardness values similar to composite resin. Conclusion: This study demonstrated significant variations in surface roughness and hardness among the different denture teeth materials evaluated. Acrylic resin exhibited the roughest surface and lowest hardness, while porcelain demonstrated the smoothest surface and highest hardness. Composite resin and nanohybrid composite exhibited intermediate values. These findings provide valuable insights for prosthodontic practitioners in selecting denture teeth materials based on specific clinical requirements, aiming to achieve optimal aesthetics, reduced plaque accumulation, and improved wear resistance.

Study of Scaling Exponents of the Surface Evolved in 2 + 1 Dimension through Competitive Growth between Random Deposition and that with Surface Relaxation

AbstractRough surface develops through computer simulation by competition between growth mechanism random deposition (RD) with a probability of occurrence p and growth mechanism random deposition with surface relaxation (RDSR) with a probability of occurrence 1 − p, on L × L square plane for system size L to record the statistical average of time variation of surface roughness W(L, t) and average height H(t) for the model for specific values of L and p. Other than the pure RD model, the entire evolution may be divided into three regions separated by two specific cross‐over times tx and tsat. The value of interface width at saturation Wsat depends on both L and p. The first growth exponent β1 increases exponentially with an increase in p and does not depend on L. The values of the second growth exponent β2, roughness exponent α, dynamic exponent z( = α/β2 ), and α + z are 0.0234 ± 0.0008, 0.0506 ± 0.0065, 2.1577 ± 0.0073, and 2.2083 ± 0.0138 respectively and they show no dependence on L and p values. Value of the first cross‐over time tx increases exponentially with an increase in p and does not depend on L. Value of the second cross‐over time tsat increases with an increase in both p and L values. The average growth velocity is unity for the model and is independent of both L and p. For the model, the growth velocity is unity and the fractional porosity is zero. The scaling exponents show some deviation from the relevant universality classes and depend on competitive growth probability for this model. No finite‐size effect is present in the model.

Investigations on surface properties of friction stir welded dissimilar AA2024-T3 and 304 stainless steel joints

The present study investigated the influence of tool rotational speed on dissimilar joints between AA2024-T3 and SS304 metals using friction stir welding (FSW). Optimal results were achieved at 560 rpm tool rotation, 25 mm/min traverse speed, and 1 mm tool pin offset. This rotation rate facilitated proper heat input, inducing plastic deformation and material flow, resulting in an ultrafine grain structure in the stir zone (SZ). 3D profilometry showed variable surface roughness affected by process parameters. Potentiodynamic tests demonstrated improved corrosion resistance in FSWed samples compared to the base material. Vickers hardness testing revealed increased hardness in the SZ due to grain refinement. Wear behavior evaluation highlighted the significant influence of tool rotation on enhancing wear resistance in welded specimens.

Nondestructive evaluation of mechanical heart valve disc thickness degradation due to accelerated durability test using THz-TDS measurements

ABSTRACT Quality assurance and control during the mechanical heart valve components’ production process is paramount to mitigate most of the valve-related complications arising from valve replacement. Nondestructive evaluation of heart valve implants with complex profiles during production is challenging due to the biocompatibility requirements and clean room assembly conditions. This study first tested the UHMWPE disc of TTK Chitra mechanical heart valve models TC1 and TC2 using Terahertz imaging in reflection mode. The UHMWPE discs were raster scanned in X-Y directions to obtain a Terahertz-C scan to locate the macro defects due to wear out, and to distinguish between the true positive and true negative samples. The results were verified with digital microscope studies. Second, this study investigates a unique relationship between Terahertz imaging in reflection mode and heart valve disc degradation due to accelerated durability study. Third, the variation of disc surface roughness due to accelerated durability test was studied by Gaussian curve fitting analysis of fast Fourier transform of the Terahertz reflections. Finally, a comparison between the TC1 and TC2 heart valve model’s wear-out foot print was carried out using Terahertz C-scan. Our results imply that Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy has promising applications in NDE measurements of biocompatible implants.

Causal relationship between seasonal variation in surface roughness and dust and sandstorm occurrence in arid and semi-arid Mongolia

In this study, the causal relationship between seasonal variations in surface conditions and DSS generation was investigated through the integrated use of the C-band backscatter coefficient (J 0) of the Sentinel 1 microwave satellite from the optical satellite sensor (Terra/MODIS). Because of the very high reflectance of the background soil in sparsely vegetated bare land, it has been difficult to rely solely on optical satellite data for accurate surface condition assessment in previous studies. Therefore, we used SAR and optical data to represent the spatial variability of backscatter coefficients for different surface conditions in the Gobi Desert and Steppe areas, and employed the C-band backscatter coefficient from the Sentinel-1 microwave satellite as a key parameter. The results show that in the Gobi Desert region, the correlation between the seasonal variation of backscatter coefficients and NDVI is highly significant, with a maximum correlation coefficient in fall (R=0.645, p&lt;0.001) an inverse correlation in summer (R=-0.216, p&lt;0.001), indicating little seasonal variation between NDVI and backscatter coefficients. In conclusion, surface roughness (σ0) is relatively low and stable from winter to the following spring and increases with plant growth in summer. In the Gobi Desert region, surface roughness changes little throughout the year, but in the steppe region, surface roughness increases with vegetation growth during the rainy season, which suppresses the generation of DSS.

Evaluating diverse electrode surface patterns of 3D printed carbon thermoplastic electrochemical sensors.

Electrochemical sensing techniques rely on redox reactions taking place at the electrode surface. The configuration of this surface is of the utmost importance in the advancement of electrochemical sensors. The majority of previous electrode manufacturing methods, including 3D printing have produced electrodes with flat surfaces. There is a distinct potential for 3D printing to create intricate and distinctive electrode surface shapes. In the proposed work, 3D printed carbon black polylactic acid electrodes with nine different surface morphologies were made. These were compared to a flat surface electrode. To evaluate the performance of the electrodes, measurements were conducted in three different redox probes (ferrocene methanol, ferricyanide, and dopamine). Our findings highlighted that when electrodes were normalised for the geometric surface area of the electrode, the surface pattern of the electrode surface can impact the observed current and electron transfer kinetics. Electrodes that had a dome and flag pattern on the electrode surface showed the highest oxidation currents and had lower values for the difference between the anodic and cathodic peak current (ΔE). However, designs with rings had lower current values and higher ΔE values. These differences are most likely due to variations in the accessibility of conductive sites on the electrode surface due to the varying surface roughness of different patterned designs. Our findings highlight that when making electrodes using 3D printing, surface patterning of the electrode surface can be used as an effective approach to enhance the performance of the sensor for varying applications.

Low-temperature grown MnAs/InAs/MnAs double heterostructure on GaAs (111)B by molecular beam epitaxy

We used MBE to grow a double heterostructure of MnAs/InAs/MnAs on GaAs(111)B at low temperature for vertical spin FET applications. To confirm the ideal development environment, we primarily prepared single InAs thick layer (∼1.2 μm) at low growth temperature (∼250 °C) with varied V/III ratio (As/In = 2, 10, 20) due to the challenge of growing InAs at much lower temperature than its usual growth temperature (∼480 °C). We measured their structural and electrical properties and found an optimum condition at V/III ratio of 10. Afterwards, we prepared the double heterostructure at low temperature (∼250 °C), again varying the As/In beam equivalent pressure ratio to find its influence on the overall quality of the structure. Using atomic force microscopy, we observed the surface roughness variation corresponding to V/III ratio variation of InAs. We confirmed the growth of three individual thick layers of MnAs and InAs by cross-sectional analysis using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Using a superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer, we found in-plane easy magnetization and observed the effect of top and bottom MnAs layers on the hysteresis curve. We also found the existence of ferromagnetic behavior of MnAs layers at RT MH measurements. The MnAs/InAs/MnAs double heterostructure on GaAs(111)B, in our opinion, has potential as a structure for spin FETs.

Exploring thermal response in aluminum heat sinks with variable surface roughness for enhanced cooling

The shrinking size and increasing power consumption of electronic products also make their thermal management challenging. Poor thermal management results in increased temperature of the electronic component, ultimately leading to the failure of the element. Thermal management of electronic devices is assisted by-passive techniques such as heat sinks. Phase change material-filled heat sinks attract industries, as they are compact and do not require frequent maintenance. In this study, heat sinks with internal surface modifications, i.e., engraving and grit blasting, are developed. The heat sinks are provided with heat storage mediums like paraffin wax and nanoparticles to analyse their effect on thermal management. This study employed two different nanoparticles, i.e., silver titanium dioxide and graphene. A simple heat sink without surface modification and a heat storage medium was used as a reference. It was found that using graphene-mixed PCM in the smooth heat sink increased the charging time by about 8%. Adding graphene nanoparticles to the phase change material decreases the discharging time by about 29%. Grit-blasted heat sinks took the most time to discharge, followed by base-engraved heat sinks. This is because the internal surface roughened heat sinks stored more heat energy during the charging process. Adding graphene nanoparticles to the PCM increases the duty cycle by about 40%. When used with paraffin wax, base engraved heatsinks and grit-blasted heat sinks have increased the duty cycle by 11% and 36%, respectively.

Numerical simulation on nanofluid enhancement of downward facing surface’s critical heat flux

In this work, an improved wall boiling model for nanofluids was proposed, taking into account the effect of bubble slip on the wall heat flux density, as well as the effects of nanofluid thermophysical properties and nanoparticle deposition on the density of nucleation sites and bubble departure diameter. The nucleation site density and bubble departure diameter were calculated and compared with the experimental data, the deviations were not more than 7.80% and 9.81%, respectively. The downward-facing surface’s critical heat flux (CHF) was numerically simulated using Al2O3-H2O nanofluids. The simulation results of CHF were compared with the experimental data, and the maximum deviation did not exceed ±16.9%. Compared to pure water, the average CHF enhancement of 0.001–0.01vol% Al2O3-H2O nanofluid was 65.4%. The impacts of thermophysical properties, contact angle, and surface roughness were analyzed separately using the control variable method. The results showed that the wall temperature and void fraction were mostly not affected by thermophysical properties, and the variation in contact angle and surface roughness had a substantial impact. For the CHF improvement of 0.001vol% Al2O3–H2O nanofluids, the proportions of contact angle, surface roughness, and thermophysical properties on the CHF enhancement are 57%, 8%, and 1%. CHF enhancement with nanofluid was strongly related to the changes in contact angle and surface roughness.

Nondestructive dielectric measurement method for orientation distribution of liquid crystal polymers film

Liquid crystal polymers (LCP) are widely used materials in 5G applications. The LCP films easily tend to form an uneven orientation distribution that degrades their service properties. However, tailoring its orientation distribution remains a challenge, primarily because traditional measurement methods are unable to non-destructively measure the orientation distribution of large-area LCP films attributed to penetration depth constraints or sample preparation requirements. Capitalizing on its inherent orientation-induced dielectric anisotropy, we propose a nondestructive dielectric measurement method for the orientation distribution of LCP film using an interdigital electrodes array. Compared to polarized FTIR and WAXS/SAXS, the dielectric method provides a universally applicable solution, even in intricate scenarios like regions with wrinkles in LCP films, films with substantial thickness, and those lacking large-scale structures. Moreover, the accurate measurement of orientation distribution confirms that the large surface roughness and significant variations in thickness distribution are attributed to the uneven orientation distribution. The findings provide a “visual window” for precisely tailoring the orientation structure of LCP films for 5G applications and beyond.

Non-contact flank modifications of spur gears using cathodic gear tools and mechanisms: an experimental study

ABSTRACT This paper introduces cathodic gear tools designed for non-contact modification of spur gears through pulsed electrochemical flank modification. Operating with continuous rotary motion, these tools achieve profile crowning, lead crowning, tip relieving, root relieving, and end relieving. Anodic workpiece gears experience constant or variable reciprocating velocity based on the modification type. Experimental investigations confirm that the tools not only achieve the intended flank modification but also reduce flank surface roughness, eliminating hob cutter marks and cracks from the modified spur gear surfaces. The magnitude of intended modifications increases with higher voltage and longer modification duration. Notably, root relieving requires a longer duration (20 minutes) compared to other modifications (12 minutes). Details of variation in surface roughness and surface morphology using scanning electron microscopy are also presented to validate the developed mechanism.

Multilayering of conventional latex-based dispersion coatings containing small amounts of silica nanospheres: Runnability on a pilot scale flexographic coater and barrier performance

The addition of functional coatings to packaging materials is a key requirement for increasing their performance and creating innovative packaging solutions. Flexography, a cost-effective printing method commonly used to print information and graphics directly onto a wide variety of packaging substrates, shows good potential for applying functional coatings. In this study, conventional clay-latex coating formulations containing approximately 1.3 wt% silica nanospheres were applied to a linerboard using a pilot scale flexographic printing web press. The performance of multilayered silica nanosphere-based coatings was compared with conventional coatings containing talc and/or wax dispersion in terms of coating grammage, runnability, and barrier performance. Coating grammage increased with an increased number of coating layers and a significant decrease in both the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and the direct water uptake of water (Cobb 120 wettability test) was observed for coatings containing silica nanoparticles. In general, the silica nanosphere-based coatings performed better than talc-based coatings. Talc/wax-based coatings had the highest variation in surface roughness due to an uneven distribution and variations of coating layers.

Surface energy considerations for offset printing of coated paper and paperboard

Offset printing of coated paper involves the complex interactions of ink with a surface that is characterized by three major properties: roughness, porosity, and related pore network structure and surface chemistry (related to surface free energy [SFE]). The effects of porosity and roughness are relatively well understood and are documented in the literature, whereas the influence of surface chemistry is much less studied and therefore the focus of this paper. The key results shown include: i) Coating porosity has a negligible effect on SFE determination by contact angle using two fluids. ii) The chemistry of the latex polymer in the coating formulation dominates the influence on SFE compared to pigment, with any surface energy differences present in the pigment being almost completely masked by latex. iii) Wetting agent and corona treatment can impact water absorption rate and surface spreading of water, resulting in small differences in printability. Increasing the concentration of the surfactant on a coated surface indicates switching orientation of the surfactant molecules, giving a “step wise” printing result. When looking to improve offset printability by selection of different pigments, the variation in SFE is less important than variation in either surface roughness or porosity.