Description
Film Applicators
Film applicator TQC is a device used to evenly spread a substance, such as paint, ink, or cosmetics, over a substrate such as a drawdown card. Applicators are usually metal bars that are manufactured to high tolerances to give consistent, and also repeatable results. Each bar will give a “theoretical wet film thickness” or, in other words, the thickness of the coating that should remain on the draw down card after application. Even with high manufacturing tolerances, the actual wet film thickness can vary from 50% to 90% of the gap.
There are multiple types of bar applicators, their forms and also uses are shown below. Film applicators follow the ASTM standard D823. Applicators can be used either manually or automatically. TQC Sheen provide several manual and also automatically film applicators as follow:
Manual Type Film Applicators
TQC Sheen Baker Film Applicators.
Cylindrical film applicator with 4 application sides for applicating paint-films of 4 different predefined thicknesses. Thats reuslt the Baker applicator’s are available in film width 60 mm and 80 mm and also suitable for applying a host of different products onto flat and relatively solid substrates. Since it’s made out of high-grade stainless steel, the Baker Film Applicator will not be affected by acid or base elements.
TQC Sheen Bird-type Film Applicators, Single Gap.
TQC Sheen Bird-type film applicator with one flat edge. One application side for applying 1 predefined thickness. The Bird-type applicator single gap is available in film width 50 and 75 mm and also suitable for applying a host of different products onto flat and relatively solid substrates. The high-grade stainless steel will not be affected by acid or base elements.
We can not give guarantee of the wet thickness that will be obtained. The wet thickness is dependent upon the solids and vehicle content of the wet material as well as other factors. Film thickness deposited may vary from 40% to 80% of the actual gate clearance of the Bird-type film applicator.
TQC Sheen Bird-type Film Applicators, 4-sided.
TQC Sheen Bird-type Film Applicators, 4-sided.TQC Sheen Bird-type film applicator with flat edges Standard ASTM D1084. Four application sides for applying 4 different pre-defined thicknesses. The TQC Bird-type applicator is available in film width 50, 60, 75, 80, 100 and 150mm and suitable for applying a host of different products onto flat and relatively solid substrates. The high-grade stainless steel will not be affected by acid or base elements. We can give no guarantee of the wet thickness that will be obtained. The wet thickness is dependent upon the solids and vehicle content of the wet material as well as other factors. Film thickness deposited may vary from 40% to 80% of the actual gate clearance of the Bird-type applicator.
Through hardening versus Case-hardening or surface hardening. Through-hardening means the metal uniformly is hardened throughout the piece. Case- or surface (face / frame) hardening only hardens the top layer of the metal. Once the top layer is degraded excessive wear and tear will occur on the product limiting its life time and affecting accuracy.
TQC Sheen 4-sided Film Applicators.
The TQC Sheen 4-Sided Film Applicator (Quadruplex) has four application sides for applying paint films with four different predefined thicknesses, in film width 60 or 80 mm. One side of the applicator is supplied with a guidance support for straight application. This support may be removed as well. The high grade stainless steel will not be affected by acid and also base elements.
TQC Sheen 4-Sided Film Applicator, Dual Reservoir, 100, 200, 300, 400µm.
Special 4-gap (quadruplex) Stainless Steel applicator with double reservoir each with 4 different values. This TQC applicator allows the user two apply 2 layers of coating simultaneously with the same thickness. Ideally for use in combination with the TQC Automatic Film Applicators and TQC Abrasion- & Scrub testers.
TQC Quadruplex applicator, 2 x 60mm reservoir, each with 4 gaps: 100/200/300/400µm.
TQC Sheen 8-sided Film Applicator – Octoplex.
The 8-Sided film applicator 25,50,75,100,125,150,175 and also 200µm with Sheen Instruments equivalent product code: SH1114.
Multifunctional film applicator (Octoplex) with 8 pre-defined thickness sides for applying paint-films of: 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200 micron with film width 60 mm.
The high-grade stainless steel will not be affected by acid and also base elements.
TQC Sheen Sag and Levelling Film Applicator.
The TQC Applicator with two functions. A side has 10 adjustment openings ranging from 75 to 300 or 250 to 475 microns to determine between film thickness and also runner formation. After applying it product, the test plate is immediately held vertically with the least thick film up. The thickness where the strips meet gives the tendency to runner formation (sags).
On the other side 5 pairs of openings with increasing depth to determine the flow. The high-quality stainless steel is insensitive to acids and also bases.
TQC Sheen Micrometer Film Applicators.
Adjustable Micrometer Film Applicator. The applicator blade can be adjusted in 10 μm increments by means of 2 micrometer heads, over a gap size from 0 up to 8 mm.
The micrometric applicator offers the user flexibility to adjust the optimum gap size for the sample application. Ideally suited to research projects where small variations in film thickness need to be evaluated accurately.
TQC Sheen Sag Index Applicator.
The Sag Index Applicator is especially designed for sag resistance evaluation. The total film width of 90mm is equally divided into 10 gaps, incremented in depths of 25µm. The space between each gap is 1.5mm.
The application of the coating is the same as for standard bar applicators, but afterwards the test panel is lifted and turned to be at 90 degrees to the horizontal, preferably with the thickest coating positioned at the bottom of the sample. The sag index can be determined by the first track that does not show signs of sagging onto the next track below. The TQC Sheen Sag Index Applicator has removable guidance plates. This guidance plate guarantees straight draw downs on glass panels or thicker test panels. Sag Index Applicator from 50 till 275µm.
TQC Sheen Cube Applicators.
Cube applicator for applying a paint film of uniform thickness. Each Cube Applicator can apply 2 pre-defined thicknesses, or 2 thicknesses to customer specifications. TQC Sheen Cube Applicators are ideal for applying paint on test panels used on for instance a drying time recorder.
Cube applicators are standard equipped with a guide plate. When used with a narrow glass panel (AB3602) this guide plate eliminates the need for a casterguide. The guide plate guarantees straight draw downs on the narrow glass panel (AB3602). The guide plate is fixed with screws and can easily be removed. Every Cube Applicator is made out of ASAB Stavax ESR medical grade stainless tool steel, which is sub zero vacuum hardened (+1756°C to -70°C), through hardened, hardness HRC 55.
Through hardening versus Case-hardening or surface hardening.
Through-hardening means the metal uniformly is hardened throughout the piece. Case- or surface (face / frame) hardening only hardens the top layer of the metal. Once the top layer is degraded excessive wear and tear will occur on the product limiting its life time and affecting accuracy.
Automatic Type Film Applicator
TQC Sheen Automatic Film Applicator Standard.
The Automatic film applicator provides a reliable basis to apply coating films to test charts (max. size 515 x 300 mm / 20.28 x 11.81 in), panels or foils in a uniform and reproducible way in order to eliminate variations caused by human factors.
Reproducible
Variations in speed, pressure and also direction of draw down cause irregularities. Other factors that may influence the result are the shear rate and also the weight of the applicator. With the Automatic film applicator these variable factors are being stabilised. Over the complete surface the film thickness is even. Samples created with the Automatic film applicator are reproducible. It’s possible to produce a large number of identical laboratory precision draw downs in a short period of time.
Rheological properties
The quality of the applied film is important for research on rheological properties of the applied media. To prepare samples for testing rheological properties, abrasion resistance, hiding power and also gloss the Automatic film applicator is a must have. Multiple types of automatic film applicators are available for either glass/paper/metal substrates or foils.
Block- and spiral applicators
All models can be used in combination with either standard block type film applicators such as bird/baker models, or spiral bar type film applicators (wire wound rod type) depending on the configuration chosen.
Unique Interface
Each Automatic Film Applicator ‘Standard’ is equipped with the Triple I Navigation Tool. The Triple I stands for Intelligent Illumination Interface. This unique navigation tool guides the operator through the interface of TQC Sheen lab-machines. At each step of the operating menu the interface detects which buttons are active and also indicates these by means of an illuminated red centre. This results in a very intuitive operating system which is enhanced with information on the machine’s display.
Heated bed
The Automatic Film Applicator Standard with perforated heated vacuum bed has a built-in heating mat which allows the temperature of the table to be elevated up to +100°C above ambient temperature. The powerful heating device result the guarantees an even distribution of the temperature over the entire vacuum plate. Temperature is set and also controlled by means of the Triple I ® Navigation tool.
TQC Sheen Automatic Film Applicator Compact.
Application speed can be set from 1 to 150 mm/s. The Compact is suitable for both wire wound rod applicators and block applicators. Operating is easy through the standard TQC Sheen operating interface. The Automatic Film Applicator Compact Compact is available with a glass bed or a perforated vacuum bed.
TQC Sheen Grindometer tool for TQC Sheen Automatic Film Applicator.
Grindometer tool to be used as an optional test tool for the TQC Automatic Film Applicators. This device allows the user to clamp a TQC grindometer scraper onto the TQC Automatic Film Applicator, to define the fineness of grind accurately and also reproducibly.
This article ONLY contains the tool. Both of the Automatic film applicator and also grindometer are sold separately.
For more product film applicators detail and inquire please contact us.
