L. Holysz et E. Chibowski, SURFACE FREE-ENERGY COMPONENTS OF CALCIUM-CARBONATE AND THEIR CHANGESDUE TO RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTRIC-FIELD TREATMENT, Journal of colloid and interface science, 164(1), 1994, pp. 245-251
Surface free energy components for calcium carbonate were determined u
sing a thin-layer wicking technique based on Washburn's equation. It w
as found that the Lifshitz-van der Waals interaction for this solid, g
amma(S)LW is 48.0 mJ/m2, and the acid-base electron donor parameter, g
amma(S-), equals 79.0 mJ/m2, while no value for the electron acceptor
parameter, gamma(S)+, was detected. These results show that calcium ca
rbonate possesses a strong monopolar surface. After the thin layer of
calcium carbonate was treated with a radiofrequency electric field (44
MHz, 60 V nonloaded peak-to-peak amplitude) for 15 or 25 min, the ele
ctron donor parameter decreased to 40.7 and 63.9 mJ/m2, and small elec
tron acceptor parameters appeared, 1.34 and 1.77 mJ/m2, respectively.
At present, no idea can be put forward for the smaller changes in the
gamma(S)- parameter for the surface treated for the longer time with t
he RF field. However, it is postulated that the observed changes in ac
id-base interactions (hydrogen bonding) are due to some rearrangements
of the surface hydroxyl groups and/or the adsorbed water molecules, l
eading to their partial mutual saturation, as this type of interaction
is complementary. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.