Design and accuracy of pendant drop methods for surface tension measurement

► The choice of the support for a pendant drop experiment for surface tension measurements is extremely important. ► Holders presenting a flat, horizontal, circular surface with a sharp edge are the preferred choice. ► The size of a suitable holder depends critically on the Bond number, specifically the density difference across the drop interface and the surface tension. ► An accuracy of ±0.01 mJ/m2 in the surface tension can be achieved.