Color Measurement
Color harmony has a major influence on the impact of perceptual quality on a product and thus, plays a key role in the purchasing decision. For objective color control solid colors are measured by single angle spectrophotometers whereas effect finishes require multi-angle spectrophotometers that simulate different viewing angles and lighting conditions. For visual color assessment use of a light booth allows to see what the product will look like under different lighting conditions in a controlled environment. Color of transparent liquids can quickly be evaluated with visual color comparators or objectively measured by reliable spectrophotometers.
Dry Coatings & Plastic Testing
Instrumentation to evaluate the physical properties of dry paint film is included in this category. Equipment to test for abrasion resistance, adhesion, flexibility, coating thickness, hardness, drying time, water permeability and impact resistance is available. Microscopes available from BYK-Gardner are part of this section. The impact testers for impact resistance of plastic materials are also included.
Film Application
To properly evaluate coatings and inks tools are needed to drawdown a wet film onto a consist substrate. BYK-Gardner offers a large selection of applicator bars, frames, and wire-wound rods. To improve the consistency of a drawdown several automatic film applicators are available. For a consistent substrate, our byko-chart line of drawdown cards are listed to check for opacity, color, gloss, and film properties. Specialty substrates like black glass and accessory items that include vacuum plates and pumps are available. Applicator bars to assess sag and leveling properties are in this category.
Liquid Paint & Coatings testing
A diverse line of instrumentation to test the physical properties of liquid coatings is described. A wide selection of viscosity measurement devices from flow cups to rotational viscometers is available. The wet film thickness, conductivity, and density measuring equipment are in this category. During the pigment dispersing process BYK-Gardner offers grindometers to check the fines of grind. In North America, BYK-Gardner markets a complete line of laboratory and pilot plant size dispersers.
Temperature Measurement
The proper temperature range to cure a coating has an important impact on the final paint film properties. To study a new paint formulation, BYK-Gardner’s Gradient Oven imparts a wide temperature range on single metal panel to easily assess the paint film properties changes at different temperatures. The Gradient Oven is also used for accelerated acid etch testing. The BYK-Gardner temp-gard temperature data logger is designed to monitor product surface and oven air temperature through a bake oven. The temperature data can be easily evaluated to optimize the oven temperatures. For ambient temperature drying applications a Dew Point Meter is available to determine if the environment is conducive for painting.
