Investigation of Wetting Process of Sea Salt Particles by QCM

摘要

Wetting processes of sea salt particles were analyzedusing an optical microscope combined with a QCM (quartz crystalmicrobalance). Sea slat particles used were collected at someseashore areas. Resonance frequencies of QCM were measuredwith every several % of relative humidity step. QCM resultsfrequently indicate that the weight gains according to moistureabsorption were not observed and frequency change correspondingto weight loss were measured. These phenomena were discussed incomparison with thermodynamic and fluid mechanical calculation.It was found that the oscillation of QCM was attenuated in thewater droplets, which were created by moisture absorption of seasalt particles. The weight change indicating the moistureabsorption of sea salt particles is difficult to detect by the QCM,sensor used in this study, having 10 MHz of resonance frequency.