CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CORK SURFACE BY INVERSE GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY

Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) at infinite dilution has been used to study the surface properties of cork from Quercus suber, The dispersi ve component of its surface energy was determined at different tempera tures using n-alkanes as probes, and a gamma(S)(D) value of 38 +/- 1 m J . m(-2) at 40 degrees C was obtained. The surface acid (A)/base(B) p roperties were also evaluated by using polar probes and the results in dicate that cork has an amphoteric character, with a K-A/K-B = 1.1. Th e advantages of IGC, compared with the technique of contact angle meas urements in the characterization of the cork surface, are discussed. ( C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.