Interfacial Phenomena
Dr. Abdulrhman Akasha
Physical Pharmacy
Department of Pharmaceutics
Lecture-3
Why we study physical pharmacy ?
Interfacial Phenomena
Interfacial Phenomena explores the more primary properties of
different liquid interfaces. The phenomena establishes :
The basic concepts of the physics of surfaces, including the
properties of matter in the surface layer.
Adsorption at liquid interfaces.
Properties of monolayers; reactions at liquid interfaces
Aspects of disperse systems and adhesion as related to the
interfacial properties.
The application of interfacial properties a valuable source of
information to students and researchers in the fields of
chemistry, biology, and chemical engineering and can also be
used for industrial and academic laboratories.
Why we study Interfacial Phenomena in pharmacy ?
Drugs to have a pharmacological effect must either
interact with or pass through a number of interface. In
some cases the dosage form itself contains a number
of interfaces. The way the dosage form releases its
active ingredients, its stability and its functionality
are affected by the way these boundiers interact,
which is termed the interfecial phenomena.
In this phenomena, will deals with heterogenous
systems such as Ointments, creams , Lotions…etc
and dispersed systems like suspension and emulsions,
to examine the various interfaces in each of
pharmaceutically important dosage forms.
Interfacial phenomena: It is defined as the
science deals with the study the physiochemical
properties of interfaces of the matter.
Interfaces: It is the boundary exists between the
two phases.
Interfacial phase: It is the boundary exists of
each phase in the bulk.
Classification of interfaces
There are Two kinds of interfaces:
1) Liquid interface
2) Solid interface
Liquid interface
It is an interface formed or existed
between liquid and other phases ,
and can be subdivided into three
types or divisions:
(1) Liquid- Liquid Interface
Example : Emulsions such as Water /Oil
(2) Liquid- Gas Interface
Example : Water / Vapour such as one
drop suspended in air
(3) Liquid- solid Interface
Example : Suspension, This kind of
interfaces can be defined by the
presence of fine particles of powder with
water or any liquid , where the powder
particles suspended, such as antibiotics
Prescribed to the children and calamine
lotion prescribed for external use.
Solid interface
It is an interface formed with solid
and other phases , and can be
subdivided into three types or
divisions:
Solid/Gas interface (suface of tablet & air)
Solid/Liquid interface (Suspension)
Solid/Solid interface (Mixture of powder
particles)
The simple way to understand interfaces:
Phases Common examples Pharmaceutical [Link]
Gas-Gas None None
Gas- Surface of drink Foams and Aerosols
Liquid
Gas-Solid Top of your desk Tablets, Capsules,
some suppositories
Liquid- Oil and Vinegar Emulsion, creams and
Liquid Lotions
Liquid- Coffee on your desk Suspensions
Solid
Solid- The book on your Powder particles inside a
Solid desk capsule or tablet
Practical significant in pharmacy
1) Study adhesion between granules
2) Preparation of layered tablet
3) Study the flowbility of powder
4) Study the physical properties of suspension ,
such as sedimentation.
5) Study the formation of emulsions and thier
stability.
Liquid interface
In liquid state the molecules are attached to each other
by means of cohesive forces of attraction and it
equal to form a drop, which mixed with other
phases wether air, liquid or solid. The molecules of
the drop near from the surface (interface) which
attache to the air for instant to form week cohesive
force lead to form the boundary, but on the other
hand the adhesive force of attraction formed with
other phases, as showen in Fig.1.
Air attached to the drop
with week cohesive forces
Other phases
Fig.1. Illustration of attraction forces in
liquid phase
Surface tension
It is defined as the force per unit lenght
that must be parallel to the surface and
Expressed in (dyne/cm). D
= f/2L
= Wt x accelarating gravity/2L eq1
It can be illustrated by a 3-sided wire
frame across a bar, over it the soap film
was spreaded , the the film was streached
by means of force applied with a mass f
was hanging with the wire, as showen in
Fig.2.
Fig.2 Illustrationprinciple of
Surface tension
The Surface tension of the soap film contracts on ,
when the force was applied by the weight mass
stopped .
The aim of applied force to break down the soap flim
was spreaded over the bar and then to show the
result of two phases Liquid- Gas Interface.
Example: Evaluate the surface tension of soap
solution , when the length of the bar = 7cm and the
weight of mass =1.5g
Solution: = f/2L =1.5 x 981/2x7 = 105 dyne/cm
Interfecial tension
It is defined as the force per unit lenght existing at the
interface between two immiscible liquid phases and
expressed by dyne /cm.
In the case of miscible phases , there is no interfecial
tension exists between them.
Surface free energy
It is the work done for a distance and expressed by ergs.
From Eq1 f = 2L x when the bar is at postion AD
Fig.2. and the mass extend the surface area by distance ds, then
the work done dw = f x ds = 2L x x ds since 2L x ds = dA
which the increase of surface area dw = dA
w = A , where w (surface free energy), (surface tension in dyne/cm)
A (increase in area in cm2)
References
Alfred Martin, Physical Pharmacy,
Physical-chemical principles in
pharmaceutical Science
Remington: The Science and Practice
of pharmacy volume1,19th 1995
