Surface Tension of Common Esters
Surface tension refers to the tendency of the surface of a liquid to minimize its surface area. The surface tension of esters is influenced by the molecular structure of the specific ester in question.
The following table provides a curated list of surface tension values for different esters under 1 atmospheric (atm) pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)
Click on the icon to switch between (mN/m) and (lbf/in) units.
| Temperature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Methyl acetate (C3H6O2) | 25 | 24.73 |
| Ethyl acetate (C4H8O2) | 20 | 24 |
| Butyl acetate (C6H12O2) | 25 | 14.5 |
| Isopropyl acetate (C5H10O2) | 20 | 26 |
| Propyl acetate (C5H10O2) | 20 | 24.3 |
| Ethyl butyrate (C6H12O2) | 25 | 23.94 |
| Isobutyl acetate (C6H12O2) | 20 | 23.7 |
| Ethyl formate (C3H6O2) | 20 | 24 |
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017. 4) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).