Adhesion and the Surface Energy Components of Natural
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ADHESION AND THE SURFACE ENERGY COMPONENTS OF NATURAL MINERALS AND AGGREGATES A Thesis by CLINT MATTHEW MILLER Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE August 2010 Major Subject: Geology ADHESION AND THE SURFACE ENERGY COMPONENTS OF NATURAL MINERALS AND AGGREGATES A Thesis by CLINT MATTHEW MILLER Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Approved by: Chair of Committee, Bruce Herbert Committee Members, Dallas Little Terry L. Wade Hongbin Zhan Head of Department, Andreas Kronenberg August 2010 Major Subject: Geology iii ABSTRACT Adhesion and the Surface Energy Components of Natural Minerals and Aggregates. (August 2010) Clint Matthew Miller, B.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Bruce Herbert A range of geochemical reactions are controlled by the interfacial characteristics of rocks and minerals. Many engineered and natural systems are affected by geochemical reactions that occur at interfaces. Asphalt-aggregate adhesion in road construction is influenced by the interfacial characteristics of the aggregate. Likewise, the remediation of nonaqueous-phase liquid contaminants, such as trichloroethylene or methyl tert-butyl ether, is controlled by the interactions between mineral surfaces and the organic liquid. Many natural systems are also influenced by reactions at interfaces. The migration of petroleum in sedimentary basins is influenced by the wettability of the surfaces of the basin pore space. Adhesion of organisms, such as bacteria or lichens, to rock surfaces is controlled by the interactions of proteins and mineral surfaces. Rock and mineral surfaces are described by surface energy. Surface energy is a thermodynamic construct defined as the amount of work required to form more of a surface. Surface energy can be divided into van der Waals, Lewis acid, and Lewis base components. The ability to predict the magnitude of surface energy components is valuable in understanding species behavior. Surface energy is controlled by three master variables: surface chemistry, surface morphology, and surface coatings. While the surface energy of a number of minerals and aggregates has been characterized, there has not yet been a comprehensive study of the surface energies of a variety of the most common minerals and aggregates using consistent methodology. In addition there has iv not yet been a study of the effect of these three master variables on surface energies of natural minerals and rocks. This study measured the surface energy of 22 common minerals and 7 aggregates. The samples’ bulk and surface chemistries were characterized with wavelength and energy dispersive spectra analyses on an electron microprobe and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The XPS was also used to quantify the organic and inorganic coatings on the surfaces. Results showed that van der Waals surface energy is typically between 40 and 60 ergs/cm2. Polar surface energy varies by 1 to 3 orders of magnitude, and thus is likely the most important component in accounting for changes between natural minerals. v DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this thesis to my parents for giving me an education and for paying for another one at Texas A&M; my grandparents for their love and support (We miss you Granddad), and my beautiful fiancé Jane Ellen. I love you. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my committee chair, Dr. Herbert, and my committee members, Dr. Little, Dr. Wade, and Dr. Zhan, for their guidance and support throughout the course of this research. Additionally, I would like to thank Dr. Guillemette for hours and hours of high quality work and help on the electron microprobe and mineral chemistry questions. Thanks also go to Dr. Bhasin for training on the universal sorption device, Dr. Kuo for help with the elemental analysis, Dr. Liang for training on the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analyses, and Nathan Gardener for his help with the universal sorption device and all of the headaches therein. Only Nathan and I truly know what that sentence means. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………… iii DEDICATION……………………………………………………………………… v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………………… vi TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………… vii LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………… ix LIST OF TABLES …………………………………………………………………. xi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION: SURFACE ENERGY OF NATURAL MINERALS.. 1 Geologic and Engineering Processes Impacted by Organic-Rock Interactions ……..…………………………………………….……… 1 Surface Energy of Solids ……………………………………….……. 3 The Components of Surface Energy ………………………….……… 5 van der Waals ………………………………………….………. 5 Lewis Acid/Base ………………………………………..……… 6 Aggregate Surfaces and Factors That Control Surface Energy ……… 7 Nonpolar Active Sites on Surfaces …………………………….. 7 Polar Actives Sites on Surfaces………………………………… 8 Physical Characteristics………………………………………… 9 Organic and Inorganic Coatings ……………………………….. 10 Measurement of Surface Energy ……………………………..……… 11 History of Surface Energy……………………………………… 11 Surface Energy Measurement Methodology ……….………….. 12 Research Objectives ………………………………………………….. 14 Present Status of Surface Energy Research …………………………. 15 Materials and Methods …………………………………………. 15 Data Analysis and Error Analysis ……………………………………. 22 II CONCLUSIONS ON MEASURING THE SURFACE ENERGY OF A VARIETY OF THE MOST COMMON MINERALS…………………… 24 Introduction …………………………………………………….…… 24 Materials and Methods ……………………………………………….. 28 Pretreatment ……………………………………………………. 28 Chemical Characterization …………………………………….. 29 viii Page Universal Sorption Device ……………………………………... 37 Quality Assurance/Quality Control ………………………………….. 40 Grain Sizes……………………………………………………… 40 Specific Surface Area ………………………………………….. 41 Bulk Moisture and Elemental Analysis………………………… 42 Data Analysis and Error Analysis ……………………………… 50 Results and Discussion ………………………………………………. 51 Surface Area and Surface Roughness ………………………….. 53 Surface Energy Results … ……………………………………. 64 Conclusions ………………………………………………………….. 89 REFERENCES …………………………………………………………………….. 94 APPENDIX A BULK AND SURFACE CHEMISTRY RESULTS …………….. 107 APPENDIX B SURFACE ENERGY RESULTS ………………………………… 141 APPENDIX C MINERAL ROUGHNESS RESULTS …………………………… 169 APPENDIX D RHODOCHROSITE X-RAY IMAGES ………………………….. 177 APPENDIX E XPS PEAK RESULTS ……………………………………………. 183 VITA ……………………………………………………………………………….. 207 ix LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1-1 Relationship of Surface Energy to Work …………………………... 4 Figure 1-2 Low and High Energy Solid Contact Angles ………………………. 13 Figure 2-1 Rubotherm Column Assembly …………………………………….. 38 Figure 2-2 Universal Sorption Device …………………………………………. 40 Figure 2-3 Fragment Size Analysis ……………………………………………. 44 Figure 2-4 Mineral Moisture Percent ………………………………………….. 49 Figure 2-5 Relationship between Surface Roughness and Surface Area ……… 60 Figure 2-6 Surface Roughness Results ………………………………………… 63 Figure 2-7 van der Waals Surface Energy (All)………………………………... 65 Figure 2-8 van der Waals Surface Energy (Carbonates) ………………………. 66 Figure 2-9 van der Waals Surface Energy (Common Silicates) ………………. 66 Figure 2-10 Lewis Acid Surface Energy (All) ………………………………….. 71 Figure 2-11 Lewis Acid Surface Energy (Carbonates) …………………………. 72 Figure 2-12 Lewis Acid Surface Energy (Sulfates) ……………………………... 73 Figure 2-13 Lewis Acid Surface Energy (Common Silicates) ………………….. 74 Figure 2-14 Lewis Acid Surface Energy (Clay Minerals) ………………………. 75 Figure 2-15 Lewis Base Surface Energy (All)…………………………………… 78 Figure 2-16 Lewis Base Surface Energy (Carbonates) …………………………. 79 Figure 2-17 Effect of Heat on Gypsum Lewis Base Surface Energy …………… 80 Figure 2-18 Total Polar Surface Energy (All) ………………………………….. 83 Figure 2-19 Total Surface Energy……………………………………………….. 84 Figure 2-20 Total Component Surface Energy ………………………………….. 85 Figure 2-21 van der Waals Surface Energy per Gram ………………………….. 86 Figure 2-22 Polar Surface Energy per Gram ……………………………………. 87 Figure 2-23 Total Surface Energy per Gram ……………………………………. 88 x Page Figure 2-24 Effect of Organic Coatings on Carbonate Surface Energy ………… 91 Figure 2-25 Effect of Organic Coatings on Lewis Base Surface Energy ………. 92 xi LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1-1 Preliminary Mineral Selection……………………………………… 16 Table 1-2 Preliminary Aggregate Selection …………………………………... 19 Table 2-1 Surface Energy Literature Values for Reference Vapors ………….. 29 Table 2-2 Final Selection of Minerals ………………………………………… 30 Table 2-3 Relative Sensitivity Factors for XPS……………………………….. 34 Table 2-4 XPS Peak Positions (eV) by Mineral ………………………………. 35 Table 2-5 Atomic Species Tested on XPS ……………………………………. 36 Table 2-6 Grain Size Analysis………………………………………………… 43 Table 2-7 Sulphanilic Acid Calibration for Elemental Analysis ……………… 45 Table 2-8 Elemental Analysis Results………………………………………… 46 Table 2-9 Moisture Analysis Prior to Heating ……………………………….. 48 Table 2-10 Mineral Surface Functional Groups………………………………… 54 Table 2-11 Bulk and Surface Measured Chemical Formulas ………………….. 56 Table 2-12 Measured Specific Surface Areas ………………………………….. 58 Table 2-13 Specific Surface Area Literature Value Comparison ……………… 59 Table 2-14 Measured Values of Surface Roughness …………………………... 62 Table 2-15 van der Waals Surface Energy Summary ………………………….. 67 Table 2-16 Lewis Acid Surface Energy Summary …………………………….. 70 Table 2-17 Lewis Base Surface Energy Summary …………………………….. 76 Table 2-18 Polar Surface Energy Summary ……………………………………. 81 1 CHAPTER