ABSTRACT
In everyday life one †nds that the surface of a material (glass, wood, plastics, metal, marble, gold or silver, etc.) plays an important role. One †nds a large variety of applications where the surface of a solid has a speci†c role and function (for example, active charcoal, talc, cement, sand, catalysis). Solids are rigid structures and resist any stress effects. Thus it is seen that many such considerations in the case of solid surfaces will be somewhat different than those for liquids. The surface chemistry of solids is extensively described in the literature (Adamson and Gast, 1997; Zhuravlev, 2000; Birdi, 2002, 2009, 2010; Diebold, 2003; Neumann, 2010). The mirror polished surfaces of metals and plastics (such as in electrical appliances) are found to be of much importance in industry. Further, the corrosion of metals initiates at surfaces, thus requiring treatments that are based upon surface properties. In economic terms the process of corrosion is the most expensive. Surface treatment technology is constantly developing methods to combat corrosion, especially in cars, bridges, housing, and steel structures. As described in the case of liquid surfaces, analogous analyses of solid surfaces can be carried out. The molecules at the solid surfaces are not under the same force †eld as in the bulk phase (Figure 5.1).
