Why measuring surface tension?

Our « test ink » range"

Why measuring surface tension?

It is necessary to make sure before starting a production that printing, painting, coating, gluing are going to have a perfect adhesion on the material (more or less hydrophilic: film, textile, metal, glass, ceramic etc… generally all non porous materials) or on the contrary that the material is not wettable with water (no adhesivity, hydrophobic) or even with oil (oleophobic) e.g., to make filters.

In this purpose, we use graduated liquid test products (i.e. test inks) that we apply on the material before starting the process according to a specific method and standard norms (please see " Method for measuring surface tension").
With this method, we can find out the exact value of surface tension level and compare it to widely accepted values regarding type of production process, type of inks or glue used.

The theory of wettability is not always easy to understand, BOUSSEY CONTROL gives you an « surface tension explanation  » on this web site.

Please note that we can modify the surface tension of a material.

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Our range of "test inks" 

For all your tension surface measures, BOUSSEY CONTROL is offering 3 types of test inks :

A) Test inks with formamide (ASTM DIN 2578-99a/ ISO 8296) available levels from 31 to 73 dynes /cm (only odd numbers from 59 dynes)

Présentation :

- Test inks bottles of 100ml
- Test pens prefilled JUMBO (with reservoir and released valves)
- sold by box of 6 items (you can choose all same dyne levels or any different dyne levels)

B) ECO test inks

If you do not have to certify your surface tension measure with the ASTM or DIN or ISO norms (which would oblige you to use formamide test ink and to make a surface trace > 6 cm2) you can order our ECO test inks (without formamide) which composition has been studied to get the same comportmental effect than the formamide test inks (influence of the temperature, evaporation, vapour tension, material compatibility…)

- On the same way, the ECO test inks are sold in prefilled JUMBO pens and bottles for levels from 32 to 73 dynes(only even levels from 32 to 58 dynes and odd levels from 59 to 73 Dynes)

Accuracy + or – 1 dyne (at 23°C / 50% humidity)
Temperature correction : around – 1 dyne / + 10 ° C (according to using conditions)

C) for fast measures of surface tension , you can also use our small disposable test pens available in levels : 38 – 40 – 42 – 44 dynes (the test pens without formamide are sold by box of 10)

Delivery : 2 or 3 days.

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Please also click on our test inks technical sheets

Please click on Boussey.c@wanadoo.fr for further information, technical advices on our test products.