Interfacial phenomena refer to the behaviors and interactions that occur at the boundary between two different phases, such as solid-liquid, liquid-gas, or solid-gas interfaces. These phenomena are crucial in various fields, including materials science, chemistry, and biology, as they influence properties like adhesion, wetting, and surface tension.
One key aspect of interfacial phenomena is surface tension, which is the force that causes the surface of a liquid to behave like a stretched elastic membrane. This property affects how liquids spread on surfaces and how droplets form, impacting applications in coatings, detergents, and biological systems.