With ADVANCE – Drop Shape, KRÜSS GmbH has developed a new, innovative software package for measuring contact angle and determining surface free energy (SFE). ADVANCE – Drop Shape is a common software platform for all KRÜSS laboratory instruments and mobile solutions for analyzing the wetting of solid surfaces.
New, intuitive operating concept and simple programming of fully automated analyses
KRÜSS has developed a unique operating concept for its new ADVANCE software in which the intelligent user interface is organically oriented to follow the workflow of a measurement. The relevant areas of the surface for the particular step are arranged in a 2×2 tile matrix and scroll automatically into focus. Only the functions relevant in the context are visible on the screen. Like a modern tablet, ADVANCE uses no menu ribbons or pop-up windows.
The database design with rapid access to measurements and results is also clearly arranged. This includes prepared and flexibly modifiable templates for new measurements which ensure exact reproducibility of measuring conditions. The associated image for each measurement is displayed when presenting the results, and can be subsequently re-evaluated at any time using different parameters or methods. There is no need for the tedious saving, loading and management of image files.
With just a few steps, automatic sequences can be created, which include sample positioning, the dosing of various liquids, drop shape analysis and calculation of the SFE. Every single step in such an automation can be repeated as often as necessary. It can also be connected with waiting times or linked to events, such as the dosing needle entering the video image. This provides great flexibility in adapting the automation to the particular analysis.
Robust video analysis with innovative background recording
The analysis of the video image of a drop on a solid surface is the most important step in contact angle measurement. For ADVANCE – Drop Shape, KRÜSS has optimized the image evaluation performance so that even images with low contrast, reflections or interference due to other objects can be analyzed reliably and precisely. The software almost always evaluates the image automatically and ensures objective results which are independent of user intervention. In doing so, ADVANCE – Drop Shape sets new standards in drop shape analysis.
The live image displays analyzed drop shapes and the contact angle very clearly and continuously updates the image content. A special innovation for measurements carried out with KRÜSS Drop Shape Analyzers is the automatic background recording of the camera image. This even takes place when no measurement is running. As with modern video recorders, the live image can be paused in order to analyze the preceding period or to save it as a video. This prevents valuable information from being lost, for example if no measurement has been started at the instant of wetting.
Many scientific evaluation methods for SFE
ADVANCE – Drop Shape works with all common, scientific models for calculating the SFE from contact angles. KRÜSS has stored the necessary physical liquid data in a comprehensive substance database which can be expanded at will. The precise measurement of surface tension of a pendant drop using KRÜSS Drop Shape Analyzers enhances the functional scope and enables the interaction between solid surface and liquid to be comprehensively analyzed. This makes the characterization of the adhesion of a coating or adhesive bond possible, for example.
About KRÜSS
Advancing your Surface Science. As specialists in interfacial chemistry and the world’s leading supplier of measuring instruments for surface and interfacial tension, we not only provide high quality product solutions – our offer is a combination of technology and scientific consulting. These include seminars, technical service, our Customer Support Lab and our Surface Science Center for professional measurement services. Many well-known companies have already been inspired by our know-how, precision and passion consulted by our offices in Hamburg, the USA, Great Britain, France and with the help of our exclusive distributor network. Acting quickly and flexibly, we are always at our customer’s doorstep in the research and development laboratories as well as quality control centers of countless industries all over the world.
