Relaxation of the water surface tension by humidification of the environment Articles uri icon

authors

  • ALVAREZ VALENZUELA, MARCO ANTONIO
  • JIMENEZ LOPEZ, SERGIO
  • SANCHEZ GARCIA-CASARRUBIOS, JUAN
  • VALIENTE BLANCO, IGNACIO
  • DIEZ JIMENEZ, EFREN
  • CRISTACHE, CRISTIAN
  • PEREZ DIAZ, JOSE LUIS

publication date

  • January 2015

start page

  • 247

end page

  • 252

issue

  • 2-3

volume

  • 9

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1749-785X

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1749-7868

abstract

  • In this document, precise measurements of the surface tension of water in air vs. humidity at 1, 6, 12 and 17 degrees C are shown. It is demonstrated that at constant temperature the surface tension decreases for increasing humidity in air, according to the dynamic effect of vaporisation to Newton's third law. A high humidity in the air reduces the net flow of evaporating water molecules, decreasing the effective surface tension on the drop. Therefore, chemical surfactants can be substituted by just steam in air with a much lower environmental impact.

keywords

  • surface tension; humidity; water–air interface; humidification; vaporisation; chemical surfactants; steam; environmental impact; water surface