# Intrinsic Wettability of Talc

## TL;DR

Talc's hydrophobicity is not intrinsic but caused by airborne hydrocarbon contamination, which changes its surface properties over time.

## Contribution

The study reveals that talc's hydrophobicity is due to environmental contamination, not an inherent property.

## Key findings

- Freshly prepared talc surfaces are more hydrophilic than previously reported.
- Exposure to air increases talc's water contact angle over time due to hydrocarbon deposition.
- Hydrocarbon deposition kinetics depend on relative humidity.

## Abstract

Hydrophobicity of talc is traditionally considered as
an intrinsic
property of this mineral. Here, we show that this hydrophobicity is
likely caused by airborne hydrocarbon contamination. We found that
a freshly prepared talc surface is much more hydrophilic than previously
reported. Upon exposure to ambient air, the water contact angle of
talc increases over time. Spectroscopy analysis and control experiments
indicate that this wetting transition is due to the deposition of
airborne hydrocarbons, the kinetics of which are highly dependent
on relative humidity.