Surface Energies of Solid Oxides and Carbides

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Abstract
The surface energies of the alkali halides are considered in relation to various parameters such as lattice energy, molar volume, and heat of formation. The conclusions derived are applied to a consideration of the surface energies of the oxides, which range in value from 250 ergs per sq. cm. for PbO to > 1420 ergs per sq. cm. for BeO. Agreement is generally good between the predicted value from those relations and the available data except for those oxides which contain heavy‐metal ions, such as Cd++ and Pb++, where polarization of the metal ion tends to produce surfaces of lower energy, and those oxides containing cations of high polarizing power, such as B3+ and Si4+, where polarization of the oxygen anions and surface screening of the cations also produce low‐energy surfaces. The surface energies of the oxides are compared with those of the refractory monocarbides as determined from wetting experiments. The surface energies of the monocarbides range in value from 800 ergs per sq. cm. for ZrC to 1675 ergs per sq. cm. for VC and show a linear relationship with the heat of formation.

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