Influence of electrical potential on the crystallization and adhesion of potassium hydrogen tartrate crystals

Nadine Gabas (1) , Maurice Comtat (1) , Benjamin Huerta Ortega

1 LGC - Laboratoire de Génie Chimique

Interfacial interactions between a hydroalcoholic solution of potassium hydrogen tartrate (KHT) and a stainless steel surface are studied, when an electrical potential is applied to the metal substrate. The capacitive domain of the metal–solution interface is determined by cyclic voltammetry. In order to study the influence of the potential on KHT nucleation and crystal adhesion, the solid–liquid interfacial energy is assessed from contact angle and capillary rise measurements. Experimentally, the contact angle between a NaF solution and a stainless steel vs. the potential has a parabolic behaviour. The metal topography has no apparent influence on physicochemical properties of the interface when ethanol is present in a KHT solution. The metal substrate promotes the formation of KHT crystals, which is improved by the application of an anodic potential. The adhesion of crystals becomes more effective when wires of 25 μm diameter are used in comparison with those of 250 μm.

Mots clés: Electrified interface; Interfacial energy; Contact angle; Capillary rise; Wetting; Electrocapillarity

Domaines: Génie des procédés; Génie chimique

Nadine Gabas, Maurice Comtat, Benjamin Huerta Ortega. Influence of electrical potential on the crystallization and adhesion of potassium hydrogen tartrate crystals. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 2009, 39 (8), pp.1287-1296. ⟨10.1007/s10800-009-9798-1⟩. ⟨hal-03573125⟩