Project Info
The Fluid Mechanics of Fountain Pen Ink
Joseph Samaniuk
samaniuk@mines.edu
Project Goals and Description:
The goal of this project is to understand why certain fountain pen inks feel “dry”, and some feel “wet” when they are used. A “dry” ink is one that feels scratchy when a pen is drawn across the paper, while a “wet” ink is one that feels smooth as it is being used. The viscosity of sample inks have been obtained previously, but the results indicated that the surface tension of the inks are more likely to be indicative of whether the inks are wet or dry. Measurements of surface tension have been made, but additional measurements are needed in order to isolate the true origin of fountain pen ink “feel”. The students on this project will need to learn to use the pendant drop tensiometer used for making surface tension measurements, learn to prepare control samples, make surface tension measurements on the samples, and analyze the data to make a clear conclusion. The student will meet with the faculty advisor weekly for guidance and mentorship.
More Information:
Grand Challenge: Not applicable.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127522003616
Primary Contacts:
Joseph Samaniuk, samaniuk@mines.edu
Student Preparation
Qualifications
No prior knowledge of the area or knowledge of simulations is needed, but the student must be interested in learning to use laboratory equipment and tools, and they must be interested in working with other senior-level undergraduate research students and graduate students.
TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)
5
SKILLS/TECHNIQUES GAINED
Basic laboratory safety skills, basic wet laboratory skills, skills required for measuring surface tension
MENTORING PLAN
The student will attend our weekly laboratory group meetings. The first three weeks the student will meet at least bi-weekly with one of the faculty advisors on the project, but a single meeting weekly after that.
PREFERRED STUDENT STATUS
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior