Measuring wettability in the environmental scanning electron microscope: a preliminary study using microinjected oil for contact angle measurement and hysteresis

This paper presents a novel method for obtaining wettability data within an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). The technique involves the use of a micro-injector to place droplets of oil on a test surface, obtaining dynamic wetting measurements, for advancing (θa) and receding contact angles (θr), by automatically moving the stage during imaging. This allows for the simultaneous capture of both θa and θr contact angles (and therefore the hysteresis) in a single image, as well as multiple repetition with good reproducibility.