Automatic Film Applicators

Manual draw downs are often inconsistent especially between operators. This makes sample comparisons difficult or unreliable. The main factors affecting the draw down are the shear rate and downward force applied to the applicator tool.

Our automatic applicators use a precisely controlled beam to push a fixed gap applicator or wire wound bar applicator which traverses over the substrate at a selected speed and with constant downward force.
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Pneumatic Panel Sprayers

Rapidly becoming the industry standard in many areas, our Automatic Panel Sprayers have been developed with the co-operation of end users to ensure the product meets the exacting quality standards of the industries using them.

The key features in the production of test panels are: repeatability, uniformity and continuity, matching real life production conditions.

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Bar Applicators

These applicators are designed for use with 100mm wide test panels.

The removable guides allow accurate and reproducible draw downs for repetitive testing. Like the bird applicator, the bar type needs no adjustment and is supplied ready for use. Standard film width is 90mm.
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Cube Film Applicators

These small applicators have the benefit of two gaps machined into their working edges. They form very reproducible, parallel sided films, often used when comparing different samples.

The Ref. 1103 is particularly suited for use with the BK range of drying time recorders and also the Minimum Film Forming Temperature Bar.
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Four Sided Applicator

This applicator has the advantage of combining ease of use with 4 gap sizes in one unit. For best results it should only be used on solid substrates which are smooth. By simply rotating the applicator through 90° the next gap is placed onto the test surface.

Available in two film widths as standard: 60mm or 80mm.
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Multifilm Applicators

A very versatile applicator, giving the user a choice of 8 different film thicknesses in one unit. Simply select the appropriate gap, place the sample in the centre and draw down in the usual manner.
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Levelling/Sagging Tester

This applicator performs two tests. The sagging test is carried out as for Ref. 1108 (from 75 to 300 µm) but also incorporated is the levelling test. This test lays down parallel pairs of film which increase in thickness. Evaluation is made after drying. The coating is deemed to show good levelling if the gap between the films is very small.
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Wire Bar Coaters/Impression Beds

These bars are ideal for the application of inks and coatings onto flexible materials such as paper, card, textiles, leather etc.,

The coating thickness applied is controlled by the area of the groove between the coils of wire. As the material levels a smooth uniform thickness is produced. Impression beds hold the substrate material firmly in place to ensure accurate drawdown.
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Micrometer Adjustable Film Applicator

By using high precision micrometer adjustment, this applicator can be set from zero to 8mm in increments of 10µm. This applicator is ideally suited to research projects where small variations in film thickness need to be evaluated accurately.

Features
Stainless steel knife blade with precision ground edge
Wet film thickness 8mm maximum
Micrometer head accuracy is ± 10 µm
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Centifugal Film Applicator "filmfuge"

The New filmfuge range of paint spinners have been designed to provide exceptional quality and consistency in spin coating application, the resultant film thickness being largely independent of substrate flatness.

With fully programmable operating parameters and safety during use, this versatile instrument will easily and effectively fulfil most application requirements.
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Sag Index Applicators

This applicator allows the sag resistance of coating to be visually evaluated. It applies a series of 10 parallel tracks of the coating to the substrate. Each adjacent track is thicker than the last. This test panel is then held vertically. The sag index value is determined as being the first track which does not sag into the one below (with the thickest at the bottom). The step interval between each track indicates a sag of 25%.

Now conforming to new International Standard BS / ISO 16862
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Adjustable Film Applicator

With this applicator, a doctor blade is used. This does not shear the material under test so the resultant wet film thickness is much closer to the actual gap clearance. Two knurled screws on the applicator allow the gap to be set up to 6000µm. Film width 76mm standard.

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Bird Applicators

These precision applicators are used in conjunction with paper, hiding power charts, plate glass or other smooth flat surfaces.

They are simple, accurate production or quality control tools which require no adjustment. Available in two film widths as standard: 50 or 75mm.
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