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Technical Papers
Topic: Surface Preparation & Treatment

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1 minute read

Surface Analyst vs. Dyne Inks: Which is the Better Solution for Surface Testing?

Technical Paper: Dyne Inks & Wetting Tension This paper explains how dyne inks compare to contact angle measurements obtained by the Surface Analyst.

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2 minute read

Surface Analyst: A Sustainable and Reproducible Dyne Pens Replacement

Updated March 2023 Dyne inks and dyne pens are still the industry normal for companies around the world, but its users commonly report pitfalls such as excess waste from the ink destroying their products and a lack of control over continuous improvement as a result.

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Less than a minute read

How Many Measurements Are Enough to Make Quality Decisions?

A surface that has been properly prepared for coating, painting, or adhesive bonding will have a certain average contact angle that is determined primarily by the chemical composition of the surface. Because of slight variations in the surface composition combined with the variation inherent in any...

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1 minute read

Utilizing Water Contact Angle Measurements to Predict Surface Preparedness for Dye Penetrant Application

Reliably predicting dye penetrant wettability for fluorescent crack inspections hinges on understanding surface cleanliness prior to penetrant application.

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2 minute read

Rapid Development of Surface Treatment Processes for Bonding Dissimilar Materials

A recent concept in automotive lightweighting is that of the ‘joining of dissimilar materials.’ The purpose is to allow tailoring the materials in a structure so as to ensure that each part of the structure has the optimum mechanical properties and minimum weight. An example would be the bonding of...

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1 minute read

Correlating Water Contact Angle With Water Break Measurements as an Indicator of Surface Energy

The water break test is a common pass/fail method used to evaluate surfaces for the presence of hydrophobic contaminants, which can be detrimental to the adhesion performance of paint or an adhesive. It is a qualitative means of evaluating surface energy, which is directly related to surface...

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1 minute read

Control of Cleaning Processes to Maximize Sealant Performance

Cleanliness in automotive powertrain manufacture is critical for several reasons. Particulates generated in the various casting and machining processes must be effectively removed to prevent both the premature wear of sliding and rotating parts as well as the catastrophic failure of components such...

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Novel Wetting Measurements for Rapid Quality Assurance of Surface Treatment for Adhesion on Polymers

This work presents the results of investigations into the ability of the ballistic drop deposition technique to measure surface treatment in the corona and flame-treated oriented polypropylene films.

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Effect of Surface Roughness on Contact Angle Measurements Obtained with the Surface Analyst

A frequent question from people who use contact angle measurements to characterize surfaces and control manufacturing processes is, “What effect does surface roughness have on these measurements?” This is a valid question, especially when dealing with surfaces that have a range of textures...

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1 minute read

Effect of Grit-Blasting on the Surface Energy of Graphite/Epoxy Composites

Composites consisting of polymer matrices reinforced with graphite fibers are attractive materials for structural applications in the aerospace industry because they are light in weight and have a high strength-to-weight ratio.

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Contact Angle Measurements and Surface Analysis of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Treated Polypropylene

The Surface Analyst™ rapidly obtains contact angle measurements from surfaces via Ballistic Deposition, whereby a small drop of liquid (usually water) is constructed in situ on the surface via a pulsed stream of nanoliter-sized droplets.

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1 minute read

Qualification of Surface Processes for Bonded Aircraft Repair

This paper demonstrates how contact angle is an extremely sensitive and rapid method to check for surface cleanliness and consistency for aircraft repair.

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Less than a minute read

Investigating the Impact of Solvent Wiping and Sanding Procedures on Surface Energy

Solvent wiping and sanding procedures can greatly affect the surface energy of a substrate. To investigate the surface energy differences following different preparation procedures of an epoxy/composite laminate, several different surface conditions were created utilizing different cleaning...

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