Adhesive Applications
Q&A: The UK’s surface measurement industry
Earlier this year, adhesives specialist Intertronics acquired Dyne Testing, a supplier of surface measurement products. Here Peter Swanson, (PS) managing director of Intertronics, sits down with Alison Fox (AF), brand manager of Dyne Testing, to discuss the UK’s surface measurement market, technology used and the eff ects of Intertronics’ takeover.
PS: Can you give me an overview of the surface measurement equipment user base in the UK? AF: “Typically, 60 percent of surface measurement equipment applications come from industry and 40 percent from academia. The technology is very useful in a research and development laboratory setting, as well as in manufacturing applications. “In the UK, we see applications for surface measurement instrumentation across automotive, aerospace, motorsports, life sciences, electronics, printing and energy storage. Surface measurement can help check whether metals are clean enough for the next processing stage or that plastics have a suffi cient surface energy to wet inks that will be subsequently printed during the manufacturing of packaging.
“Energy storage is a growing area for surface measurement technology; wettability is important at several diff erent stages of Lithium ion battery manufacturing, including slurry preparation, coating and drying, calendering, cutting and cell assembly and electrolyte fi lling. With increasing demand for electric vehicles, manufacturers are looking for ways to optimise the manufacturing process.” “Medical implants are another popular application. These materials must be biocompatible, which is often achieved with surface treatment or coatings.
Instrumentation can help design, fabricate, characterise and evaluate the properties and performance of biomaterials. This helps to ensure biocompatibility and add desirable properties.”
PS: What are the typical challenges associated with wettability? AF: “Wettability is a prerequisite of adhesion; for bonding or printing to be a success, the surface energy of the substrate must be higher than that of the liquid. However, many modern plastics have low surface energies that make bonding a challenge. Surface measurement technologies help identify the cause of low wettability, so that manufacturers can optimise the surface preparation process to eliminate adhesion issues.
“Manufacturers may also face adhesion issues as a result of compromised cleanliness. Metal can become contaminated on a production line, which can prevent successful processing later on. Handprints or cleaning fl uids may mean that paint does not stick to the surface well enough.”
PS: What kind of technology can aid surface measurement? AF: “Dyne Pens and Inks can measure a polymer’s surface energy or wettability and identify fi lmic
contamination of metals. This can benefi t engineers and researchers in packaging and converting, automotive, aerospace, medical device manufacturing and battery technology applications. “The Dyne Pen test is a method of determining the surface energy of most polymer-based materials in line with ISO 8296 and ASTM D2578- 84. Engineers use them to understand the surface energy and wetting characteristics of polymers and their suitability for bonding, coating, painting or printing. Test results will inform the need for surface preparation, such as cleaning or plasma, corona or fl ame surface treatment.
“Dyne Pens were originally designed for use in packaging applications to test the surface energy of polyethylene fi lm before printing, but they have been used successfully in many applications. They can help engineers understand a substrate’s surface tension.”
PS: What does this acquisition mean for Dyne Testing customers and the wider industry? AF: “Dyne Testing focusses on surface measurement technology and our equipment will help Intertronics’ customers better understand why a problem with adhesion might be occurring. The acquisition gives Dyne Testing customers access to the wider Intertronics capabilities in terms of adhesives and coatings, as well as equipment for surface preparation, mixing, application, dispensing and curing. “We are planning on enhancing our service capabilities, quality of support and speed of response; these have always been important things for the Dyne Testing brand and they align closely with Intertronics. We are particularly excited that our customers will gain access to the Intertronics Technology Centre to do hands-on trials and tests.
“In terms of the wider industry, we are anticipating new applications from emerging and growing industries, like battery technology and life sciences applications, as well as supporting more academics and universities.”
14 July/August 2024
www.convertermag.com
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