Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGBThe relatively simple determination of the wetting properties of material surfaces via contact angle measurements can already provide important information on the cleanliness or bondability of the product. By varying the measuring liquid, it is possible to calculate the surface energy and the corresponding polar and non-polar fractions. Determining the hysteresis from the advancing and receding contact angle gives indications of inhomogeneities or roughness of the surface.
Contact angle analysis
Measuring equipment/measurement possibilities
Contact angle measuring device.
Contact angle measuring device.
Contact angle measuring system OCA40, dataphysics
- Automatic syringe dosing
- Measuring range -30 °C to 350 °C
- Static and dynamic contact angle of a liquid on solid surface against gas phase or liquid
- Contact angle of a gas bubble on solid surface in a liquid (captive bubble)
- Determination of the surface free energy of the solid
- Interfacial and surface tension measurements using the pendant drop method
- Video analysis of dynamic wetting processes
- Tilt angle for droplets running off an inclined surface
Requirements for test material
- max. specimen width 21 cm
- max. specimen height 6 cm
- other dimensions by arrangement
Examples
- Optimization of coating processes (bonding, painting, printing, ...)
- Determination of the surface free energy of plastics
- Protein adsorption as a function of the surface energy of the adsorbate