Solid-liquid interfacial tensions by the dihedral angle method. A mathematical approach

An elaboration of Smith's relationship is presented, in order to relate the experimental behaviour of the dihedral angle 2? with temperature to the values of solid-liquid and solid-solid interfacial tensions and to their dependence on temperature. It is shown that, in the general case, the hypothesis, usually made, of a linear dependence of interfacial tensions on temperature is not correct. A criterion to evaluate the signs of the temperature coefficients of interfacial tensions from the shape of the dihedral angle vs temperature curve is given, and two equations which allow to compute interfacial tensions in the experimental temperature range, are also reported. © 1985.