ASTM D2578-08
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Wetting Tension of Polyethylene and Polypropylene Films
Standard Test Method for Wetting Tension of Polyethylene and Polypropylene Films
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
When a drop of liquid rests on the surface of a solid, and a gas is in contact with both, the forces acting at the interfaces must balance. These forces can be represented by surface energies acting in the direction of the surfaces and it follows that:
where: θ = angle of contact of the edge of the drop with the solid surface, γGL = surface energy of the gas - liquid interface, γGS = surface energy of the gas - solid interface, and γSL = surface energy of the solid - liquid interface.
The right side of the above equation (the difference between the surface energies of the gas - solid and solid - liquid interfaces) is defined as the wetting tension of the solid surface. It is not a fundamental property of the surface but depends on interaction between the solid and a particular environment.
When the gas is air saturated with vapors of the liquid, γGL will be the surface tension of the liquid. If the angle of contact is 0° the liquid is said to just wet the surface of the solid, and in this particular case (since cos θ = 1) the wetting tension of the solid will be equal to the surface tension of the liquid.
The ability of polyethylene and polypropylene films to retain inks, coatings, adhesives, etc., is primarily dependent upon the character of their surfaces, and can be improved by one of several surface-treating techniques. These same treating techniques have been found to increase the wetting tension of a polyethylene or a polypropylene film surface in contact with mixtures of formamide and ethyl Cellosolve in the presence of air. It is therefore possible to relate the wetting tension of a polyethylene or a polypropylene film surface to its ability to accept and retain inks, coatings, adhesives, etc. The measured wetting tension of a specific film surface can only be related to acceptable ink, coating, or adhesive retention through experience. Wetting tension in itself is not a completely acceptable measure of ink, coating, or adhesive adhesi...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the wetting tension of a polyethylene or polypropylene film surface in contact with drops of specific test solutions in the presence of air.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to inch-pound units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazards statements are given in Section 8.
Note 1—This test method is equivalent to ISO 8296.
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Designation:D2578–08
Standard Test Method for
1
Wetting Tension of Polyethylene and Polypropylene Films
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2578; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 4. Significance and Use
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the wetting 4.1 Whenadropofliquidrestsonthesurfaceofasolid,and
tension of a polyethylene or polypropylene film surface in a gas is in contact with both, the forces acting at the interfaces
contact with drops of specific test solutions in the presence of must balance. These forces can be represented by surface
air. energies acting in the direction of the surfaces and it follows
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as that:
standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
gGL cosu5gGS2gSL (1)
conversions to inch-pound units that are provided for informa-
where:
tion only and are not considered standard.
u = angle of contact of the edge of the drop with the
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
solid surface,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
gGL = surface energy of the gas - liquid interface,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
gGS = surface energy of the gas - solid interface, and
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
gSL = surface energy of the solid - liquid interface.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazards
4.1.1 The right side of the above equation (the difference
statements are given in Section 8.
between the surface energies of the gas - solid and solid -
NOTE 1—This test method is equivalent to ISO 8296.
liquid interfaces) is defined as the wetting tension of the solid
surface. It is not a fundamental property of the surface but
2. Referenced Documents
depends on interaction between the solid and a particular
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
environment.
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
4.1.2 When the gas is air saturated with vapors of the liquid,
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
gGL will be the surface tension of the liquid. If the angle of
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
contact is 0° the liquid is said to just wet the surface of the
2.2 ISO Standard:
solid, and in this particular case (since cos u = 1) the wetting
3
ISO 8296
tension of the solid will be equal to the surface tension of the
liquid.
3. Summary of Test Method
4.2 The ability of polyethylene and polypropylene films to
3.1 In this test method drops of a series of mixtures of
retain inks, coatings, adhesives, etc., is primarily dependent
4
formamide and ethyl Cellosolve of gradually increasing sur-
upon the character of their surfaces, and can be improved by
face tension are applied to the surface of the polyethylene or
one of several surface-treating techniques. These same treating
polypropylene film until a mixture is found that just wets the
techniques have been found to increase the wetting tension of
film surface. The wetting tension of the polyethylene or
a polyethylene or a polypropylene film surface in contact with
polypropylenefilmsurfacewillbeapproximatedbythesurface
mixtures of formamide and ethyl Cellosolve in the presence of
tension of this particular mixture.
air. It is therefore possible to relate the wetting tension of a
polyethylene or a polypropylene film surface to its ability to
1 accept and retain inks, coatings, adhesives, etc. The measured
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics
wetting tension of a specific film surface can only be related to
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.19 on Film and Sheeting.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2008. Published November 2008. Originally
acceptable ink, coating, or adhesive retention through experi-
approved in 1967. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as D 2578 - 04a.
ence. Wetting tension in itself is not a completely acceptable
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
measure of ink, coating, or adhesive adhesion.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
NOTE 2—A wetting tension of 35 dynes/cm or higher has been
the ASTM website.
3 generally found to reveal a degree of treatment normally regarded as
Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
acceptable for tubular film made from Type 1 polyethylene and intended
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
4
for comme
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:D2578–04a Designation:D2578–08
Standard Test Method for
1
Wetting Tension of Polyethylene and Polypropylene Films
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2578; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the wetting tension of a polyethylene or polypropylene film surface in contact
with drops of specific test solutions in the presence of air.
1.2
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions
to inch-pound units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. Specific hazards statements are given in Section 8.
NOTE 1—This test method is equivalent to ISO 8296.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
2.2 ISO Standard:
3
ISO 8296
3. Summary of Test Method
4
3.1 In this test method drops of a series of mixtures of formamide and ethyl Cellosolve of gradually increasing surface tension
are applied to the surface of the polyethylene or polypropylene film until a mixture is found that just wets the film surface. The
wetting tension of the polyethylene or polypropylene film surface will be approximated by the surface tension of this particular
mixture.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 When a drop of liquid rests on the surface of a solid, and a gas is in contact with both, the forces acting at the interfaces
must balance. These forces can be represented by surface energies acting in the direction of the surfaces and it follows that:
gGL cosu5gGS2gSL (1)
where:
u = angle of contact of the edge of the drop with the solid surface,
gGL = surface energy of the gas - liquid interface,
gGS = surface energy of the gas - solid interface, and
gSL = surface energy of the solid - liquid interface.
4.1.1 The right side of the above equation (the difference between the surface energies of the gas - solid and solid - liquid
interfaces) is defined as the wetting tension of the solid surface. It is not a fundamental property of the surface but depends on
interaction between the solid and a particular environment.
4.1.2 When the gas is air saturated with vapors of the liquid, gGLwill be the surface tension of the liquid. If the angle of contact
is 0° the liquid is said to just wet the surface of the solid, and in this particular case (since cos u = 1) the wetting tension of the
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.19 on Film and Sheeting .
Current edition approved Aug.Nov. 1, 2004.2008. Published August 2004.November 2008. Originally approved in 1967. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as
D 2578 - 04a.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
4
Registered trademark of Union Carbide Corp. for ethylene glycol monoethyl ether.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
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D2578–08
solid will be equal to the surface tension of the liquid.
4.2 The ability of polyethylene and polypropylene films to retain inks, coatings, adhesives, etc., is primarily dependent upon
the character of their surfaces, and can be improved by one of several surface-treating techniques. These same treating techniques
have been found to increase the wetting tension of a polyethylene or a polypropylene film surface in contact with mixtures of
formamide and
...
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