The adsorption of particles to air/aqueous interfaces is vital in many applications, such as mineral flotation and the stabilization of food foams. The forces in the system determine whether a particle will attach to an air/aqueous interface. The forces between a particle and an air/aqueous interface are influenced by Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) forces (i.e. van der Waals and electrostatic forces), non-DLVO forces (e.g. hydrophobic, hydrodynamic, structural and capillary forces), liquid drainage, and liquid flow. As an air/aqueous interface can be deformed by a particle, the forces measured between an air/aqueous interface and a particle can differ from those measured between two hard surfaces separated by liquid. The presence of a film at an air/aqueous interface can also change the forces.

在许多应用中，例如矿物浮选和食品泡沫的稳定化，颗粒在空气/水界面上的吸附至关重要。系统中的力决定了颗粒是否会附着在空气/水界面上。颗粒与空气/水界面之间的力受Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek（DLVO）力（即范德华力和静电力），非DLVO力（例如疏水力，流体动力，结构力和毛细力）的影响，排液和液体流动。由于空气/水界面会因颗粒而变形，因此在空气/水界面与颗粒之间测得的力可能不同于在两个被液体隔开的硬质表面之间测得的力。空气/水界面处薄膜的存在也可以改变力。