Surface tension is a parameter of decisive importance for characterizi
ng painted and unpainted surfaces related to wetting and adhesion phen
omena. This article presents measurements of the surface tension of so
lids by means of an automatic contact angle measurement device. The ev
aluation of the surface tension is based on a separation into polar an
d disperse components. In addition, this paper briefly touches on othe
r, more far-reaching approaches (acid/base) and discusses a method for
the determination of dynamic surface tension of liquids.