Hydrophobic attraction forces in asymmetric aqueous films between hydrophobized mica/bare mica surfaces

The water-structure-based, quasi-thermodynamic theory published several years ago of hydrophobic interaction forces in symmetric aqueous films [J.C. Eriksson, S. Ljunggren, P.M. Claesson, J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans. 2 (85) (1989) 163] has been generalized to encompass asymmetric films between, e.g. a hydrophobized mica surface and a bare mica surface. The interaction pressures derived on this basis are in good agreement with the experimental data recorded by Claesson et al. [P.M. Claesson, P.C. Herder, C.E. Blom, B.W. Ninham, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 118 (1987) 68]. Hence, additional support is gathered for the original claim that the hydrophobic attraction is related with hydrogen-bond-dependent cluster formation processes in water contacted with a hydrophobic solid surface.