THE SURFACE,INTERFACIAL AND ELECTROKINETIC PROPERTIES OF BIOMINERALS

ABSTRACT

The apolar (Lifshitz van der Waals) component (γ ^LW _S) and the polar [electron-acceptor (γ ⁺ _S) and electron-donor (γ ^? _S)] parameters of the surface tension of biominerals and surfaces of dental hard tissues have been measured, as well as their ζpotentials. The interfacial tensions between their surfaces and aqueous solutions, determined using van Oss-Chaudhury-Good equations, are comparable with the interfacial free energy values obtained from the kinetics of crystallization and dissolution using a constant composition technique. The electron-donor (γ ^? _S) parameters indicate that most of these minerals have a moderate to high hydrophobicity. The interfacial tension values are consistent with the order of the solubilities of these minerals.