The force between two hydrophobic surfaces enclosing an aqueous solution has been calculated via Monte Carlo simulations using the isotension ensemble. The confined water phase is in equilibrium with a bulk at constant chemical potential, and the average density between the surfaces is gradually decreased as they are brought closer together. The density depression in the slit gives rise to a strong attractive interaction exceeding the standard van der Waals force by an order of magnitude. This force mechanism is consistent with some of the experimental results obtained for the interaction of two hydrophobized surfaces in water. The results cannot, however, be used as a comparison with the very long-range forces extending over several thousand angströms found in some experiments.
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Forsman et al. (1996) studied this question.
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