The growing significance of surface properties in modern materials, particularly in medical technology, drives the need for accurate characterization techniques. Traditional contact angle measurements face challenges when applied to intricate surfaces like dental implants. Here, tensiometry applying the Wilhelmy plate method has been described in the last decade to offer one solution for the evaluation of complex surface geometries by quantifying apparent contact angles based on wetting forces. This study evaluates a simple setup employing the Wilhelmy balance concept for immersion angle determination. Instead of using a force sensor as in tensiometers, the wetting force is determined via changes in mass signal by means of an analytical balance available in standard laboratories. The force is thus recorded inverse to conventional tensiometry. The approach was validated on diverse geometries and extended to intricate structures, including plasma-treated dental implants. Results were compared to conventional contact angle analysis systems underlining the reliability of the method in characterizing non-planar and complex surfaces. Additionally, the method was successfully extended to the evaluation of surface energies on planar and non-planar surfaces using various solvent sets. However, results evidenced that specimen geometry can influence the measurements to such an extent that immersion contact angles can no longer be calculated due to capillary effects. An outlook suggests further exploration with a wider range of test liquids to enhance accuracy in surface energy determination.

中文翻译：

---

威廉天平——一种简单可靠的方法，即使在非平面和复杂的几何形状上也能确定浸入角度和表面能？

现代材料（尤其是医疗技术）中表面特性的重要性日益增加，推动了对精确表征技术的需求。传统的接触角测量在应用于牙种植体等复杂表面时面临挑战。在过去的十年中，应用 Wilhelmy 板方法的张力测定法已被描述为通过量化基于润湿力的表观接触角来评估复杂表面几何形状的解决方案。本研究评估了一种采用威廉平衡概念来确定浸入角度的简单装置。润湿力不是像张力计那样使用力传感器，而是通过标准实验室中可用的分析天平通过质量信号的变化来确定。因此，与传统张力测定法相反地记录力。该方法在不同的几何形状上得到了验证，并扩展到复杂的结构，包括等离子体处理的牙种植体。将结果与传统接触角分析系统进行比较，强调了该方法在表征非平面和复杂表面方面的可靠性。此外，该方法还成功扩展到使用各种溶剂组评估平面和非平面表面的表面能。然而，结果证明样本几何形状会对测量产生影响，以至于由于毛细管效应而无法再计算浸入接触角。展望建议进一步探索更广泛的测试液体，以提高表面能测定的准确性。