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Failure analysis contant angle measuring device

Test system for the evaluation of wettability and surface purity

Short name: Test system of wettability

Fogra no. 34.020
Project leader: Dr P. Stolper
Partner: wfk – Cleaning Technology Institute e.V., Krefeld (Germany)
Funding: BMWK (IGF) via AiF
 

Timescale: 01.01.2018 - 30.04.2020

Research Report

Objective and relevance

When using commercially available test inks to evaluate the surface energy or wettability of surfaces, the result obtained is highly dependent on the test ink set used. Furthermore, there is no comparability with the results of contact angle measurements. Therefore, the research project aims to develop an ink system consisting of a polar and a disperse ink set as well as a master ink for the general differentiation of surface qualities.

Furthermore, both an automated application procedure and a software-supported evaluation application are to be developed in order to obtain a reproducible result independent of the user. Such a procedure can contribute, for example, to reliably test aged films, to continue using them if necessary and to avoid waste.

Dr Philipp Stolper

Head of Materials & Environment

+49 89 431 82 - 354

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I would be pleased to answer your questions about the project and look forward to exchanging ideas with you.

Solution steps

Several steps are necessary to achieve the goal of the research project:

  • Creation of a test panel of substrates to determine the surface tension and thus verify the new test inks
  • Development of a standardised application method for ink application
  • Development of the evaluation procedure (App)
  • Development of new test intensities for predominantly polar or disperse surfaces
  • Formulation of a “master ink” to determine the surface texture (more polar or disperse)
  • Practical suitability of the new inks with the surfaces from the test panel
test ink set gold

Achieved results

After completion of the project, the notified ink sets are available, one for predominantly polar surfaces and a second for predominantly non-polar surfaces. There is also a master ink to distinguish between rather polar and rather disperse surfaces.

In order to offer an alternative method to the common brush method, a prototype for an automated application process has been developed. Furthermore, the evaluation can be realised with the help of an app.