A Method for Error Minimization in Static Contact Angle Measurements of Fibers

Purpose: This study identifies the error factors that can occur when measuring the contact angle of fibers and suggests the most optimal static contact angle (SCA) measurement conditions.<br/>Methods: Static contact angle measurements were performed using glass fibers (GFs) and four different solvents. The influence of measurement time, solvent evaporation, solvent droplet embedded length, volumetric free energy, and contamination were investigated to determine how to minimize SCA measurement errors.<br/>Results: The volatilization conditions of the solvent vary between different types of solvent, and the size of the solvent droplets formed on the fibers was the main source of measurement error in SCA measurements. A droplet size criterion must be defined to reliably measure the SCA of fibers.<br/>Conclusion: For accurate SCA measurements of fibers, the length of the droplets absorbed by the fibers should be set to 150 ㎛ to ensure reliability. While this study focused on reducing the error in SCA evaluation and providing a baseline, future research will explore the impact of accurate SCA measurements on the design of aerospace components.