On overturning and anchoring of monolayers - II. Surface diffusion

Abstract

The process described in part I is shown to involve not only overturning and anchoring but also surface diffusion, the rate of which has been determined. A two-dimensional melting-point of 52°C is found for stearic acid monolayers on mica and the energies of activation for diffusion found to be 42 and 21 kcal/gmol below and above this temperature respectively. In multilayers surface diffusion over the first monolayer deposited on the substrate proceeds much more rapidly than that of the monolayer.