Contact angle measurements on fibers in the environmental scanning electron microscope

A method has been developed for the condensation of droplets onto individual textile fibers in the environmental scanning electron microscope. It can be seen how the drops formed surround the fibers as long as the fiber surface is smooth. In this case they adopt an unduloid shape. The images produced of the droplets allow measurement of contact angle and have many advantages over corresponding images from the optical microscope. When the fiber surface is roughened, e.g., by crenelations, the droplet shape changes and contact angle measurement is much harder.