QUANTITATIVE MEASURE OF HYDROPHOBICITY - EXPERIMENT AND THEORY

The strength of the forces between bubbles of various hydrophobic gase s is determined by monitoring the coalescence rate of bubbles. A theor y is formulated to elucidate the role of hydrophobicity in the rupture of the film between two hydrophobic surfaces and to develop thereby a first-principles parameter for the strength of hydrophobic forces. Th e theory is shown to be in quantitative agreement with the experimenta l data. On the basis of these results, it is demonstrated that the vac uum is the most hydrophobic ''solute'' possible.