The Cahn wetting theory predicts that, if a liquid does not wet a solid substrate at low temperature, then it will eventually wet at some higher temperature T[subscript w]. This theory has never been verified for polar liquids on solid surfaces, nor near room temperature. Nitrous oxide is polar, with a critical temperature of 36.4?C. We find that nitrous oxide does not wet sapphire below 35?C, making it suitable for studying the Cahn theory for polar liquids near room temperature.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Weiler, Robert Scott

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 06D316M

Advisor

• Garcia, Rafael

Year

• 2006

Date created

• 2006-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Physics

Rights statement

• In Copyright