Publication

Interface free energy or surface tension: definition and basic properties.

Charles Pfister
2009
Reports

Abstract

Interface free energy is the contribution to the free energy of a system due to the presence of an interface separating two coexisting phases at equilibrium. It is also called interfacial free energy or surface tension. The content of the paper is 1) the definition of the interface free energy from first principles of statistical mechanics; 2) a detailed exposition of its basic properties. We consider lattice models with short range interactions, like the Ising model. A nice feature of lattice models is that the interface free energy is anisotropic so that some results are pertinent to the case of a crystal in equilibrium with its vapor. The results of section 2 hold in full generality.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/42409076-50b0-4fa3-b84a-beb41987408c

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Charles Pfister
2009
Reports

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/42409076-50b0-4fa3-b84a-beb41987408c

About this result

Related concepts (32)

Surface energy

In surface science, surface free energy (also interfacial free energy or surface energy) quantifies the disruption of intermolecular bonds that occurs when a surface is created. In solid-state physics, surfaces must be intrinsically less energetically favorable than the bulk of the material (the atoms on the surface have more energy compared with the atoms in the bulk), otherwise there would be a driving force for surfaces to be created, removing the bulk of the material (see sublimation).

Surface tension

Surface tension is the tendency of liquid surfaces at rest to shrink into the minimum surface area possible. Surface tension is what allows objects with a higher density than water such as razor blades and insects (e.g. water striders) to float on a water surface without becoming even partly submerged. At liquid–air interfaces, surface tension results from the greater attraction of liquid molecules to each other (due to cohesion) than to the molecules in the air (due to adhesion). There are two primary mechanisms in play.

Statistical mechanics

In physics, statistical mechanics is a mathematical framework that applies statistical methods and probability theory to large assemblies of microscopic entities. It does not assume or postulate any natural laws, but explains the macroscopic behavior of nature from the behavior of such ensembles. Sometimes called statistical physics or statistical thermodynamics, its applications include many problems in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry, and neuroscience.

Related publications (17)

Interface free energy or surface tension: definition and basic properties.

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