Innovative system solutions for the quality control of color, appearance and physical properties.
The innovative measurement instruments of BYK-Gardner are like “objective eyes” because they measure a surface as the human eye perceives it.In appearance measurement devices, BYK-Gardner is the undisputed global market leader. The “wave-scan” and “structure space”, for example, are established worldwide automotive industry standards for measuring orange peel effect (waviness) and DOI (distinctness of image).
Basically, “structure space” is a special assessment system in which the measurement values correspond to the visual impression. It was developed by the “Orange Peel Working Group” under the chairmanship of BYK-Gardner and with the active participation of leading automotive manufacturers.
Appearance Measurement
Uniform appearance is an important quality criterion of multi-component products which are made by various suppliers. The appearance of opaque products is described by terms such as gloss, distinctness of image, orange peel, haze and mottling, while transparent materials are characterized by their transmission properties being total transmittance, transmission haze and clarity. BYK-Gardner offers objective measurement solutions to guarantee reliable quality control:
- Portable gloss meters to test surface reflection
- Orange peel and DOI meters for waviness and brilliance control
- Mottling meter to evaluate mottling of effect finishes
- Haze meters to control transmission properties
Colour 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 and 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.
Liquid Paint and Coating Testing
A diverse line of instrumentation to test the physical properties of liquid coatings in 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 gindometers to check the fines of grind.
Temperature Measurement
Instrumentation to evaluate the physical properties of dry paint film.
