Surface tension is influenced by the cohesive forces of the molecules and viscosity is related to the shear stress in the solution. It seems like both involves the performance of molecules. However, there is a statement that saying both is not related. Hope able to get better clarification. Thank you.
Well, Surface tension is the property of a liquid’s surface which is caused by unbalanced forces on surface molecules that pull toward the main (underneath) part of the liquid.
Viscosity is related to a liquid’s internal resistance that manifests itself as the internal friction in between its consecutive layers when subjected to motion or deformation.
As it can be noticed that the origin of the two properties are not directly related to one another. And, so the general notion is that there is no absolute correlation between viscosity and surface tension. However, researchers have investigated this and one such good work does mentions about a relationship between the surface tension and viscosity. The relationship is empirical though, obtained from experimental observations, rather than a rigorous theoretical derivation. The formula is,
Surface Tension = A x e-B/viscosity . A and and B are constants. See, the attached article.
Let me just add one comment to this. We work on watermist extinguishers, so each time some surfactant is used by any of our collaborators we run up to our devices to see how they perform using a new surfactant - viscosity is a key factor in performance of some, but not all subcomponents our contraptions we make. It seems that both viscosity and surface tension are subject to the same influence of temperature. That must have something to do with a random motion of molecules of liquid. In that sense the B factor (less probably the A one) in the paper by Pelofsky may be a function of temperature.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Physical Sciences
- Mechanics