Wettability of Metallic Oxides—Application to Stainless Stell Acid-Base Properties

Abstract The Bronsted acid-base properties of oxides of metallic systems are investigated by contact angle measurements of water droplets for different pH. Theoretical analysis based on the electrical and chemical variations of the solid/liquid interfacial tension allows to understand the experimental results observed on model oxide surfaces as SiO2 and Al2O3. Similar wetting measurements are performed on the passive films of a model Fe-Cr-Si alloy and 304 stainless steel. Significant correlations are observed between the contact angle-pH curve and the oxide composition of the passive films deduced from XPS analysis.