Evaluate the simple surface energy of aggregates using the capillary rise method

This paper describes the evaluation of surface energy of two types of aggregates, a limestone and granite, using the capillary rise method. The capillary rise method is a simple method that can successfully be used to determine the surface energy of powders. Contact angle measurements were performed using the capillary rise method and, thereafter, surface energy of aggregates was determined using the Young-Dupre equation. The results of the experiment indicate that limestone had a slightly higher surface energy compared to granite. The two aggregates had almost equal apolar components of the surface energy whilst the polar components were quite different.