In our powder coating system, we coat individual sample sheets and customer samples.

The thorn bending test (DIN EN ISO 1519) is a deformability or elasticity test, more precisely a bending elasticity determination with cylindrical spine. Here, test plates are bent around bending mandrels (rods), which have an individual diameter depending on the requirement. The smaller the thorn, the more likely cracks and adhesion to the coating appear.

In the grid cut test according to DIN EN ISO 2409, depending on the layer thickness and paint structure, a knife comb is scribbled vertically and horizontally into the paint surface to the substrate until a checkerboard pattern can be seen. After removing the resulting paint residues with a soft brush, the checkerboard pattern is assessed whether there are small to large paint tears. In most cases, a poor adhesion of the coating is already noticeable when the lattice pattern is carved.

In the gloss degree measurement according to DIN EN ISO 2813, the gloss of a surface is determined with a measuring device that radiates light onto a surface. A measured value is output when the reflected light is recorded via a receiver and the ratio between the irradiated and the light reflected from the surface is determined at the angle of the mirroring reflection. The result is displayed in gloss units (GE or GU = gloss units).

The cooking test is used as a quick test of the pre-treatment or the paint adhesion under the influence of water diffusion in the paint film. Residues on the surface of the workpiece, such as grease, dust, salts, lead to bubbles in the paint film under the influence of moisture.

Sample sheets or parts from production are placed in boiling VE water for two hours. The samples are then taken and after cooling a visual assessment is carried out for bubbles and /or infiltrations.

In addition, after a ventilation phase of the samples after 1 hour at room temperature, a lattice section test can be carried out.

The condensate constant climate test (sweat water test) simulates the behaviour of coated test plates in a humid environment.

During the test, a test plate lingers in a test chamber with water vapor saturated air. Subsequently, the adhesiveness of the coating system is determined by means of a lattice cut test.

In the ball drop test, a ball falls on the paint layer, which creates a dent ("intrusion") or a bulge ("extrusion").

Once there is the possibility to set the fall energy to a preset, fixed value. The ball drop test then provides a result of the resistance of the coating to cracking with rapid forming ("go/no-goTest" or "pass/fail" test).

During furnace measurement, the temperature curve in the combustion furnace is measured in order to obtain an optimal coating result. It is important to take into account the burn-in conditions that we provide in our technical leaflets here.

The QUV-A and QUV-B tests in accordance with DIN EN ISO 16474-3 use a QUV device containing UVA and UVB tubes. With the UVB tubes, the degradation of the binder (gloss loss and screeding) and with the UVA tubethe color changes are checked.

The salt spray test is a standardized test for the evaluation of the corrosion protection effect of coating systems. Sample plates are provided with a groove and then given in a test chamber for a certain period of time, depending on the corrosion protection class. In the test chamber, the test specimens are then continuously sprayed with a 5% saline solution at approx. 35°C. 

The addition of acetic acid (AASS) or copper chloride (CASS) exacerbates the corrosive conditions compared to the neutral salt spray test (NSS).

In layer thickness measurement, the thickness of the coating applied to the substrate is measured. The result is expressed in micrometers (microns). 1000 microns (microns) = 1 mm.

The XENON test is an artificial weathering system in which sunlight-like lighting acts on the test plate and is moistened in defined cycles.