Accession Number:

ADA235802

Title:

A Review of Experimental Observations and Remaining Questions Concerning Formation, Persistence and Disappearance of Sea Slicks

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 20 Apr-30 Sep 1990

Corporate Author:

NAVAL RESEARCH LAB WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Barger, William R.

Report Date:

1991-05-06

Pagination or Media Count:

50.0

Abstract:

Over 500 articles related to questions concerned with understanding the forces that act to control the formation, persistance, and disappearance of sea slicks and to determine their properties have been gathered and cross- indexed under a set of key words. A brief review of current thinking about slicks drawing on the database of listed references is presented. Recent results from the literature comparing dynamic and static surface dilational modulus data are summarized. To provide an illustrative example for the general discussion, new data for a single natural film formed on the surface of a seawater sample are presented. The natural sample was characterized by determining its film pressure, modulus, surface potential, and corresponding damping coefficients for 30 Hz capillary waves as a function of the area occupied by the film. These were compared to corresponding data for two pure compounds that form monomolecular films on seawater. Previously unpublished data on the spontaneous spreading rates of 10 pure surface-active compounds were used to determine the relationship between spreading velocity and surface tension gradient. Topics in need of further study where data for natural films are scarce or nonexistent are identified.

Descriptors:

• *MONOMOLECULAR FILMS
• FILMS
• DAMPING
• SURFACES
• PURITY
• PRESSURE
• SEA WATER
• SURFACE TENSION
• GRADIENTS
• DATA BASES
• COEFFICIENTS

Subject Categories:

• Physical Chemistry
• Physical and Dynamic Oceanography

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE