Abstract
Surface tension is difficult to measure with high accuracy. This parameter was measured for pure water to determine conditions that would permit high accuracy. Sources of error in assessing stability, variance, reproducibility and time-dependency of surface tension were sought. The glass syringe, differences in inner and outer temperatures of the cell and its inner pressure, etc. were found to affect this parameter. With attention to these factors, greater accuracy was achieved. Use of a glass syringe and holder with exact control of temperature led to maximum elimination of error. The surface tension of pure water, surfactant solutions and volatile organic liquids were measured and compared with previous values. There was less variation and the results were much more reproducible. High accuracy is thus possible with elimination of sources of error. Significant interfacial phenomena such as phase transition in adsorbed film, not observed by usual surface tension measurement apparatus, may thus be effectively studied through use of surface tension obtained with the present apparatus.
