Pocket GONIOMETER
Conforms to the following specifications:
ASTM D724
TAPPI T458
SCAN P 18
The PocketGoniometer measures contact angle. This physical phenomenon
appears at the interface between a liquid droplet and a substrate surface. The
contact angle test is commonly used to understand how a liquid and a
substrate surface interact with each other.
PRODUCTS
The PocketGoniometer concept consists of
a range of affordable scientific instruments
which are small enough to be transported
"in your pocket." The different models cover
a wide range of applications for
troubleshooting, field-testing, quality
control, research and development.
PG-1 is a battery-operated instrument for
manual measurements of static contact
angles at "equilibrium." This instrument is
ideal for the introduction of contact angles
at an unbeatable price.
PG-2 is an automated instrument for
measurements of static and dynamic
contact angles, even on absorbent
materials like paper. The built-in camera
captures a video sequence of the liquid
droplet applied on the surface to measure
contact angle (wetting), volume (absorption)
and base width (spreading) of the droplet
as a function of time. Connects to a
standard laptop or PC with a USB port,
which will also supply power to the
instrument.
PocketGoniometer
PG-3 is an automated instrument for measurements of static and dynamic contact angles
similar to the model PG-2. In addition the PG-3 model has an integrated micro-pump,
which can deliver accurate droplets in 0.5µ steps.
The PocketGoniometer Model PG - 1 . . .
. . . . is a manual, battery operated i nstrument
designed for laboratory and field applications. A
droplet is pumped out from the manual dispenser
and applied on the specimen surface. An
illuminated, magnified image of the droplet is
displayed on the built-in screen equipped with a
rotating protractor. An integral eyepiece provides
additional magnification (x7) for improved
accuracy. The specially designed light source (with
70,000 hours of expected life time) and a triple
lens system in combination with a battery-saving
circuit, offers an extended battery life of more than
100 hours of testing time.
The PG-1 is ideal for introduction of the "static"
contact angle concept for measurements on solid,
non-absorbent substrates. The instrument is
shipped in a carrying case
complete with a User's Manual in English, batteries (2xAAA/UM-4), a PG calibration kit and a droplet
dispenser, which is stored inside the instrument.
The PocketGoniometer Model PG-2 . . .
. . .is a video based instrument designed
for qualified applications in quality control
and research. A liquid droplet is pumped
out from the manual dispenser and
applied on the specimen surface. The
built-in camera captures a droplet image
to determine the static contact angle at
"equilibrium," or a sequence of images to
measure the dynamic wetting, rate of
absorption and spreading as a function of
time. In addition the PocketGoniometer
software measures surface tension of the
test liquid and includes a report generator.
This instrument is connected directly to
the USB port of a laptop or a desktop
computer.
The PG-2 is shipped in a carrying case
complete with a User's Manual in English,
software for Windows 95/98/XP and
Windows 2000, a PG calibration kit and a
droplet dispenser pump.
The pump delivers accurate droplets in steps of 0.5µ. Droplets of special test liquids can also be applied
from the alternative manual dispenser.
The PocketGoniometer Model PG-3 . . .
. . . is a video based instrument
designed for qualified applications in
quality control and research. The PG-3
instrument has all the features of model
PG-2, with the addition of a built-in
micro-pump. The pump delivers
accurate droplets in steps of 0,5, µ.
Droplets of special test liquids can also
be applied from the alternative manual
dispenser. The built-in camera captures
a droplet image to determine the static
contact angle at "equilibrium" or a
sequence of images to measure the
dynamic wetting, rate of sorption and
spreading as a function of time. In
addition, the PocketGoniometer
software measures
surface tension of the test liquid and includes a report generator. This instrument is
connected directly to the USB port of a laptop or a desktop computer. The PG-3 is shipped
in a carrying case complete with a User's Manual in English, software for Windows
95/98/XP and Windows 2000, a PG calibration kit, spare pump tubing and a droplet
dispenser.
APPLICATIONS
What is the Contact Angle?
By placing a liquid droplet on a specimen surface, a contact angle is formed at the
interface between the liquid and the substrate. By definition, a droplet which "beads up," is
non-wetting and a contact angle higher than 90 degrees is displayed. When the droplet
"wets out" across the surface, wetting is obtained and the contact angle is less than 90
degrees. Contact angle measurement is a reliable method to characterize the interaction
between a liquid and a surface. This robust method (The Young-Laplace Equation, see
further in formation at the followiing link: http://www.uv.es/~garmovla/pe0209.pdf),
established long ago, has gained wide acceptance in surface science for applications
related to :
Printing
Corona treatment
Inks
Wood
Papermaking
Absorption
Surface
contamination
Solvents
Agriculture
Coating
Flame treatment
Oils
Metals
Cosmetics
Paper
Pharmacy
Adhesion
Surface sizing
Surfactants
Plastic
Detergents
Board
Biomedicine
Cleaning
Surface tension
Water
Wettability
Dentistry
Textile
Surface energy
When the liquid droplet does not penetrate into the substrate (e.g. water an glass) the
interaction can be characterized by the static contact angle if the surface is smooth and
homogeneous. When the liquid penetrates into or spreads across the specimen surface
the interaction can be characterized by the dynamic contact angle as a function of time.
The wetting hysteresis of a surface is characterized by the advancing/receding contact
angles describing the wetting/de-wetting properties at a surface.
The contact angle is a function at the liquid's surface tension and the surface "free" energy
at the substrate.
"Static" contact angle
A liquid droplet placed an a solid, nonabsorbent surface will reach an "equilibrium"
condition where no further spreading of the droplet occurs. The contact angle reading,
which is determined at this condition is the "static" contact angle. For high viscosity liquids
(e.g. glycerin) it is necessary to wait until the spreading stops before a reading is
determined.
What is a "dynamic" contact angle?
On absorbent materials, where the liquid penetrates into the substrate, the contact angle
will continuously change as a function of time. In certain applications (e.g. printing, gluing)
the process time is sometimes critical for the process to work. To measure this "dynamic
contact angle," as well as "rate of absorption" and spreading, it is necessary to capture a
sequence of images during the interaction. PocketGoniometers with an integrated camera
captures 15 images a second. This gives very accurate results free from operator bias as
the droplet applied on the specimen surface triggers the image capturing.
PocketGoniometers
Models PG-1, PG-2, and
PG-3.
PG-mp MODELS
The PG-1mp is the current PG-1
model equipped with a manual pump
(mp).
The PG-2mp is the current PG-2
model equipped with the same
manual pump.
This PG-mp pump is a peristaltic
pump operated with a fi nger on a
rotating disk, which pumps the liquid
via a tubing from the standard glass
vial used in PG-3 and PG-X. The
pump flow is reversed when the
pump disk is rotated in the opposite
direction, which en ables
measurement of “wetting hysteresis”
characterized by the
advancing/receding contact angles.
Depending on the distance between
the test surface and the dispensing
tip, small droplets down to 0.1µL can
be applied with excellent
repeatability.
The new version of the PG software has an automatic function where a test can be started
before the droplet is applied on the test surface. When the droplet contacts the surface,
the advancing contact angle is measured as the droplet spreads across the surface. When
the liquid flow is reversed, the receding contact
angle is measured. The test is aborted when the receding droplet is no longer in contact
with the dispensing tip.
Product
Operation
Sampling
- Specimen size
- Max specimen thickness
Display Screen
Camera*
Pump**
- Advancing/receding
mode
Drop Applicator
Contact Angle Readings
- Contact Angel Range
- Accuracy
Power Supply
Dimensions (L x W x H)
mm
Weight
Shipping Weight
Features
- Fits 25mm glass slides
Program Functions
- Static Contact Angle
- Dynamic Contact Angle
- Surface Tension
- Surface Free Energy
- Advancing/receding
angle
PG-1
PG-1mp
Manual
15 mm wide strips
2.5 mm (12mm)
Yes
No
No
Manual
(syringe)
No
Yes
PG-2
PG-2mp
PG-3
Semi-Automatic
15mm wide strips
2.5 mm (12mm)
No
Yes
PGX
Automatic
any size sample
unlimited
No
Yes
No
(syringe)
Manual
Automatic
Automatic
No
Yes
No
No
Manual
Manual
5 - 180°
± 2°
2 x AAA Batteries
(100+ hours)
Manual
Automatic
5 - 180°
± 5°
Automatic
Automatic
Automatic
± 5°
via USB Cable
160 x 55 x 40
160 x 55 x 55
350 grams
800 grams
350 grams
950 grams
165 x 55 x
55
400 grams
1000 grams
90 x 55 x 90
400 grams
1200 grams
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
(Yes)
Yes
(Yes)
Yes
* Camera Specifications
Frame Rate
15 images per second
Image size
640 x 480 pixels
Pixel size
10 x 10 microns
Connections
via USB Cable
** Pump Specifications
Droplet Size
0.5 µL, 14 µL, in steps of 0.5 µL
Liquid Volume
one mL
© 2005 FIBRO Systems AB, Sweden
AVAILABLE ITEMS
Item Number
Item
FT-3001
Model PG-1 battery operated instrument for manual measurement of static contact
angles
FT-3003
PG-1mp is a PG-1 model equipped with a manual pump
FT-3012
Model PG-2 automated instrument for measurement of static and dynamic contact
angles
FT-3014
PG-mp is a PG-2 model equipped with a manual pump
FT-3023
Model PG-3 automated instrument for measurements of static and dynamic contact
angles and has integrated micro pump which can deliver accurate droplets in 0.5µl steps
FT-3051
Dosing Unit
Replacement/Spares
FT-3026
Syringe Refill with Tip for PG-3, Pkg/10
FT-3027
Tubing Replacement for PG-3 Pump, Pkg/10
FT-3028
Liquid Container Kit for PG-3 with and without Plug
FT-3031
Calibration Kit for PG-2 & PG-3
FT-3033
Callibration Kit for PG-1
FT-3041
Droplet Dispenser Kit (5* 1 PC), Set of 5/Pkg
Home Surface Tension How To Order Top Of The Page
Paul N. Gardner Company