Paint application and testing system

At the beginning of 2014 Labman delivered a paint testing system to an international coatings manufacturer. This three module system alleviates the requirement for staff to conduct repetitive testing allowing them to conduct more value adding tasks. It also improves data consistency and integrity. The application module takes syringes pre-loaded with paint and uses BYK Bird Bars of various sizes to apply the paint to metal substrates. These paint films are then assessed by laser profilometry and a non-contact spectrophotometer to provide film thickness data and wet optical properties. After drying, the substrates with applied paint films are moved to the analysis module. The films are subjected to laser profilometry, gloss measurement and contact spectrophotometry to provide film thickness data and dry optical properties. If desired, the substrates can be taken through the guided work flow of the abrasion/burnish resistance module. By employing an oscillating bed, gloss meter and balance it is possible to study the resistive properties of the paint film with all data being automatically collected and stored in a database.