THE SURFACE, INTERFACIAL AND ELECTROKINETIC PROPERTIES OF BIOMINERALS

The apolar (Lifshitz van der Waals) component (gamma(S)(LW)) and the p olar [electron-acceptor (gamma(S)(+)) and electron-donor (gamma(S)(-)) ] parameters of the surface tension of biominerals and surfaces of den tal hard tissues have been measured, as well as their zeta-potentials. The interfacial tensions between their surfaces and aqueous solutions , determined using van Oss-Chaudhury-Good equations, are comparable wi th the interfacial free energy values obtained from the kinetics of cr ystallization and dissolution using a constant composition technique. The electron-donor (gamma(S)(-)) parameters indicate that most of thes e minerals have a moderate to high hydrophobicity. The interfacial ten sion values are consistent with the order of the solubilities of these minerals.