ABSTRACT
The wetting behavior of powders or small particles is important in many indus trial applications and natural phenomena. The mineral processing, pigment, paint, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries all require a knowledge of particle wet tability. In flotation, for instance, solid particles dispersed in a liquid (usually wa ter) attach to gas (air) bubbles. Especially in many applications in mineral engi neering solid particles must have a certain degree of hydrophobicity in order to achieve selectivity and high recovery. The key to a successful flotation process is the ability to control the water-solid interface so that all solids obtain a required hydrophobicity.
