Correlating Interfacial Tensions with Surface Tensions: A Gibbsian Approach

The Gibbs approach to the definition of interfacial and surface tensions is used for developing a general form for a correlation between interfacial tensions and their corresponding surface tensions. This general equation can serve as a starting point for either further fundamental development or an empirical search for a correlation that fits experimental data. In this Article, the latter approach is followed. The general equation is transformed by a few reasonable assumptions into a relatively simple framework for empirically correlating interfacial tensions with their corresponding surface tensions. The agreement of results of the present empirical correlation with a large body of experimental data for interfacial tensions in saturated liquid liquid systems is better than that of previously suggested correlations. It is hoped that this correlation will be useful also for solid liquid interfacial tensions, for which direct measurements are not yet available.