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Very long range attractive forces between uncharged hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon surfaces in water

Journal Article · · J. Phys. Chem.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100317a052· OSTI ID:5306861

A new method has been used to carry out accurate measurements of the hydrophobic interaction between uncharged hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon monolayer-coated surfaces in a surface force apparatus. The measurable range of the attraction between these deposited monolayers extends to a separation of 80 nm in conductivity water and can be approximated by an exponential function with two decay lengths of 2-3 and 13-16 nm, respectively. There is only a slight difference in the strength of the interaction between the fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon surfaces, in contrast to the significant difference in hydrophobicity as measured by the advancing contact angle of water. The authors suggest that the much shorter range attractive forces measured between monolayer adsorbed from solution are due to the formation of partial bilayers. They speculate that the very long range hydrophobic interaction found here is related to the metastability of water films between very hydrophobic surfaces.

Research Organization:
Australian National Univ., Canberra
OSTI ID:
5306861
Journal Information:
J. Phys. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Phys. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 92:6; ISSN JPCHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English