Contact angle measurements can be used as a tool for understanding the wetting between a liquid droplet and a substrate. The original FIBRO DAT concept offers a range of integrated instruments, for research as well as quality control. These instruments enable detailed automatic analysis at full video speed of the interaction between a liquid droplet and a specimen surface. The time-dependent wetting and sorption response correlates to many experienced production problems in surface coating and sizing, printing and adhesion.

The DAT concept offers many advantages compared to "look-alike" imitations based on regular video capture systems:

Accurate timing of drop application to first image within one millisecond

High precision pumps within ± 0.1 µl

Precision pulse system for gentle application of the droplet

Calibration and validation with ISO certificates

Industry Standards:
TAPPI T558
ASTM D-5725

Special applications? No Problem!

There are several available options to meet unique testing requirements:

Automatic and manual feed systems of "special designs"

Special sample feed which enables automatic measurement of "saturation time"

The DAT Image Sequencer to characterize fast absorption rates for paper tissue and synthetic fiber materials

The DAT Tilt Table to analyze wetting/ de-wetting phenomena

True high-speed video systems capturing up to 1,000 images per second

Special lens systems

Test Procedure

The DAT instruments are easy to operate and a complete test takes only a few minutes. A specimen is cut to the proper dimensions and put into the feed mechanism.The syringe or container is then filled with the test liquid, and the test can start.

Individual images are captured throughout the test and can be replayedas still images or as an animated sequence. In this way, the operator can control the timing selected with a precision of one millisecond accuracy.

Between each drop, the specimen is advanced until the requested number of drops have been measured. The average result and variation of contact angle (wetting), volume (sorption) and base diameter (spreading) is reported as a function of time.

Interactive, Easy-to-useSoftware Package

All instruments come with a fully interactive easy-to-use software under Windows-NT. The new software has simplified the operation of the DAT with step-by-step instructions for setting up tests which can then be stored and recalled quickly. All parameters are easily modified to customize your tests for a variety of liquids and test materials. Quickly change the reference line, check times, droplet size and pulse stroke — save it; and you have a new test profile.

Software Features

Measure contact angle, penetration andspreading as a function of time

Measure surface tension of the probing liquid

Test profile database

Probing liquid database

Calculation of surface "free" energy

Report generator

Touch Screen capability

Recall previous tests

Compare a series of tests

Store diagram files and images for presentation and export to external software packages