Binders and Coatings

The Fraunhofer WKI offers extensive technical equipment for research and development. For the work in our department we mainly use the following equipment.

Coating laboratory with diverse application procedures and paint-drying facilities

• FANUC paint robots (flow-coating, airless, airmix and electrostatic)
• Bürkle roller coating machine
• Automatic film applicator
• Diverse paint-spraying devices (airless, airmix)
• Combinable UV/IR convection dryer
• UV laboratory dryer

3D printers

• UV printer: Moai 130 SLA 3D printer from Peopoly (13 x 13 x 18 cm, 405 nm, 70-micron laser )
• Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF): Ultimaker 2+
• Filament extruder from 3devo for the production of filaments; wood-filled polymers can also be processed
• Mini-compounder KETSE 12/36 from Brabender^® (screw diameter 12 mm) for compounding small quantities of polymers and additives, incorporating fillers, mixing and reinforcing with fibers, production simulation and scale-up; also suitable for at least 60% wood flour with a polymer carrier 

Natural and artificial weathering

Natural weathering

• Weathering station (45° and 90° south, 90° north) e.g. in accordance with DIN EN 927, EN ISO 2810 and ISO 16053
• Weather station

Artificial weathering

• QUV/spray device, e.g. in accordance with DIN EN 927-6, ASTM D-4587 and ISO 11507
• Xenon flatbed device SUNTEST XXL+ from Atlas in accordance with DIN EN 4892-2, DIN EN ISO 11341, DIN EN 15187, VW PV 3929 und VW PV 3930
• Sun tester, e.g. in accordance with DIN EN ISO 4892-1, DIN EN ISO 4892-2

Instrumental analytics

• ATR-FT/IR spectrometer
• UV-VIS spectrometer
• HPLC, GPC
• Rotation rheometer (viscosity, rheology)
• Particle-size measuring device, zeta potential
• Tensiometer
• Gradient kiln for determination of the minimum film-forming temperature
• Reflected light, transmitted light and fluorescence microscopes
• FTIR microscope

Mechanical analysis

• Material testing machine Z010 from Zwick^® with tempering chamber
• DMA thermal analysis (incl. modulus of elasticity, loss modulus, glass transition temperature)

Devices and testing equipment

• Color- and gloss-measurement device color-guide-gloss from BYK^®, in accordance with ISO 7724
• Gloss-measurement device micro-TRI-gloss from BYK^®, in accordance with DIN EN ISO 2813
• Adhesion Tester from DeFelsko^®
• Ultrasonic measuring device from DeFelsko^® for non-destructive layer-thickness measurement
• Climatic and drying chambers
• Impact tester
• Ball drop tester
• Taber abraser
• Martindale pilling und abrasion tester
• Scratch testers
• Sliding friction tester
• Crockmeter
• Residual indentation tester