Attension® Theta Optical Tensiometers
Attension® Theta Flex Tensiometer
The Attension® Theta Flex is an advanced and versatile contact angle meter for highly accurate measurements of static and dynamic contact angle, roughness-corrected contact angle, surface free energy, surface and interfacial tension, and interfacial rheology.
Flexible and Modular
Plug-and-play modules for complex analysis techniques enable you to tailor your system to your needs
Fast and Repeatable
Automate your workflow from measurement to analysis, maintaining reproducibility across experiments
Talk to an Instrumentation Specialist Today!
Advanced Contact Angle Meter with Versatile Options
The Attension Theta Flex is a fully modular contact angle meter designed for high-precision surface science in both research and industry. It supports all major wettability and adhesion measurements, including static and dynamic contact angle, surface and interfacial tension, and roughness-corrected contact angle with optional 3D topography. The system’s modularity allows it to be tailored to specific applications, while automation and disposable tips streamline workflows and improve repeatability. With award-winning ergonomic design and integrated OneAttension software, Theta Flex delivers reliable results through intuitive operation and high-end imaging.
supported measurements
Sessile Drop / Static Contact Angle
Places a drop of liquid and captures images of the droplet sitting stationary on the surface
Applications:
Industrial cleaning assessments, printing, petroleum, medical devices
Sessile Drop: Batch Mode
Carries out static contact angle measurements at various locations on the same sample
Applications:
Surface cleanliness, paint adhesion, coatings, other surface properties
Dynamic Contact Angle with Needle-in Droplet
Measures advancing and receding contact angles as a droplet grows and shrinks on the surface
Applications:
Hydrophobic coatings, self-cleaning surfaces, surface heterogeneity characterization
Dynamic Contact Angle with Tilting
Assesses the advancing and receding angles and the resulting hysteresis using a tilting stage or tilting cradle
Applications:
Hydrophobic coatings, self-cleaning surfaces, surface heterogeneity characterization
Pendant Drop / Interfacial Tension
Measures the force between two immiscible liquids to evaluate how easily they mix or separate
Applications:
Enhanced oil recovery, pharmaceuticals, emulsions, surfactants
Meniscus Method / Surface Tension
Measures the cohesive force at a liquid’s surface to evaluate spreading, wetting, and formulation behavior
Applications:
Detergents, agrochemicals, paints, food science, pharmaceuticals
Pulsating Drop / Interfacial Viscoelasticity
Measures how interfacial layers respond to deformation by oscillating the droplet area to evaluate viscoelastic properties
Applications:
Emulsion stability, foam stability, surfactant performance, pharmaceutical formulations
Roughness Corrected Contact Angle
Isolates texture effects to show true wettability without being skewed by surface topography
Applications:
Medical device biocompatibility, printing on surfaces, packaging, 3D printing
Surface Free Energy
Evaluates how easily liquids spread or stick to a solid surface by measuring surface wettability
Applications:
Surface cleanliness, powder processing, adhesives, paints,
Theta Flex Tensiometer
Product Features
User-Friendly Software
The Theta Flex runs on OneAttension, the intuitive software used across the full Attension line. Clear workflows guide users through setup, measurement, analysis, and reporting with minimal training required. Live imaging, adjustable parameters, user profiles, and recipe creation simplify the process while maintaining high accuracy. Results can be reviewed in real time or exported for further analysis, making the software practical for both routine tasks and in-depth studies.
Powerful Camera
The Theta Flex camera is equipped with a high-resolution sensor and ultra-fast frame rates to capture droplet movements with crystal-clear clarity. A large monochromatic LED backlight delivers uniform, high-contrast illumination that brings out the tiniest shape changes. Manual-focus optics provide precise adjustment for consistent imaging across diverse surfaces and liquids. Fully integrated with OneAttension software, the camera streams live video and supports detailed frame-by-frame analysis to simplify drop-shape evaluation and boost throughput.
| Resolution | 1936 x 1216 px |
| Maximum Frame Rate | 2247 fps |
| Field of View | 2, 8 x 1, 7 ... 22, 1 x 13, 8 |
| Zoom | x 8 |
| Max Sample Size | 360 mm x unlimited x 100 mm |
Automatic Disposable Tip Dispenser
The dispenser seats up to four single-use tip cartridges cutting downtime for cleaning and reducing cross-contamination risk. Single-use tips snap into place for seamless multi-drop sequences and surface free energy studies across multiple liquids. OneAttension software steps through each tip-change routine, keeping workflows running smoothly.
Modular & Upgradeable
The Theta Flex platform accepts a wide range of add-on modules and accessories that integrate seamlessly with the base unit. Quick-swap holders and tool-free connectors simplify customization for contact-angle mapping, high-pressure testing, environmental control, and more. A growing accessory library includes roughness-corrected 3D topography, tilting cradles, and other options that keep workflows flexible as research needs evolve. OneAttension software recognizes connected modules on startup and adjusts data capture and analysis to the current setup with minimal downtime.
Optional Environmental Control
Select from snap-on environmental chambers, including electrically heated, fluid-bath heated, and room-temperature variants, to set precise temperature and humidity conditions around your sample. Programmable ramps and soak periods automate complex temperature protocols without manual intervention. Chambers attach to the Theta Flex base with tool-free connectors for fast swapping. OneAttension logs chamber conditions alongside drop measurements to maintain full traceability.
Application Support & Local Service
In the US and Canada, the Attension products are supported and serviced by Nanoscience Instruments. We pride ourselves on providing exceptional application support and field service, ensuring your team of users is well-trained and the instrument is up and running in optimal condition. Whether you are interested in discussing the feasibility of a specific experiment or need help with troubleshooting your Attension system, our Support teams are here for you!
Theta Flex Tensiometer
Product Accessories
Roughness-Correction Module
The unique 3D Topography module takes wettability and adhesion analysis to a completely new level by measuring both contact angle and surface roughness of the sample in a single measurement.
High Pressure Chamber
The High Pressure Chamber is designed for wettability research within enhanced oil recovery and enables measurements at pressures up to 400 bar and temperatures up to 200°C.
Tilting Cradle
A software controlled tilting cradle. Used for studying dynamic contact angles. Tilting range from 0 to 90° and tilting resolution 0.1°.
Interfacial Rheology Module
Software controlled drop size pulsing for interfacial rheology measurement of viscoelastic properties of interfacial layers at liquid-air or liquid-liquid interfaces.
Picoliter Dispenser
Utilize automated picoliter-scale drop formation. Especially useful for inkjet applications and for measuring contact angle on very small sample areas.
Attension® Theta Flex Tensiometer
Product Knowledgebase
Webinar
Interfacial dilatational rheology is a useful tool to investigate the properties of liquid…
Blog
Evaluating Medical Device Coatings with Picoliter Droplets
Coatings for invasive medical devices are critical in ensuring their safety, performance,…
White Paper
Surface and interfacial tensions of liquids significantly affect their wetting behavior an…