BoNDTinspect aerosol wetting test

To achieve a reliable bond, it is indispensable to monitor the condition of the adherend surfaces before bonding. This process step is necessary to control surface pre-treatment and/or to detect contaminations such as release agents or fingerprints.

Principle:
An ultrasonic atomizer produces a defined water aerosol and, depending on the surface energy of the substrate, a specific droplet pattern forms on the surface under test. The droplets are automatically detected by a camera system and displayed using imaging software.

For a defined liquid volume, the droplet size depends directly on the contact angle. This means that the ability of a surface to be wetted is characterized by the droplet size distribution.

By specifying target values, it is possible to evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of a pre-treatment process (e.g. plasma treatment) for cleaning or activating the surface, or to detect contaminants on the surfaces.

Compared to conventional methods such as test inks, water break test, and contact angle measurements for determining the wetting properties of surfaces, the BoNDTinspect aerosol wetting test offers a number of advantages:

• The test can be used on individual large-area surfaces (plastics, metal, FRP);
• The evaluated surface re-dries within a short time without leaving any residues;
• The test can be directly integrated into production processes.

More information:www.automationwr.de
Booth: K5