Properties of adsorbed water layers and the effect of adsorbed layers on interparticle forces by liquid bridging

The potential of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation for the study and predi ction of particle/particle and particle/wall interaction in the wide contex t of technology has been explored. The present study concerns the nature of adsorbed water and its effect on the interaction between two surfaces. Com puter models of two opposing (1,0,-1) crystal surfaces of a-quartz (dimensi ons 5.49 x 4.91 nm) were constructed and up to 1500 water molecules positio ned between the surfaces. The simulations were performed in the NVT ensembl e in "math mode" at a temperature of 300 K. The axial profiles of density a nd mobility (the latter resolved in planar and axial components) in the ads orbed layers were studied. The separation between the crystal surfaces was varied, monitoring the adsorbed layer morphology and the forces acting on t he crystals. Most of the simulations shown are with 1500 molecules between the plates, giving around 3.1 adsorbed monolayers, corresponding to a relat ive saturation (humidity) of 67% according to the BET isotherm. The density profiles show an ordered packing of molecules in the first two adsorbed la yers with density peaks considerably higher than in bulk water and a low mo lecular mobility. The density tails off to zero, and the mobility rises to above that of bulk water at the surface of the adsorbed layer, which was cl early defined but undulating. Determination of the forces acting on the cry stals was difficult due to strong fluctuations on a short time scale, so on ly simulations for long times yielded statistically significant average for ces. At a surface separation of 3 nm, spontaneous bridge forming took place , paired with significant attractive forces between the crystals. The natur e of the bridge is discussed. The observed bridging and resulting surface/s urface force are shown to be roughly consistent with expectations based on macroscopic theory represented by the BET isotherm, the Kelvin equation (us ing the surface tension of bulk water), and a bridging force calculated fro m pressure-deficiency and surface tension contributions.