Gloss metre Used in Topcoat Curing Agent Industry
1. What is a topcoat curing agent?
Hardener is also called curing agent or modifier. Topcoat curing agent is a substance that accelerates the stability of topcoat. It will have a certain effect on the surface gloss of topcoat. For industries with high requirements, it is necessary to strictly measure the gloss before and after the topcoat curing agent is used. After using the topcoat curing agent, if the topcoat gloss does not meet the requirements, you need to adjust the topcoat curing process.
2. Why does topcoat curing agent affect gloss?
Paint surface gloss is the visual impression obtained when evaluating a surface. The more light directly reflected, the higher the gloss. Gloss mainly depends on the specular reflection ability of the object surface, and has a certain relationship with the surface roughness. The curing of paint is a chemical process such as condensation, closed-loop, addition or catalysis, which causes the thermosetting resin to undergo an irreversible change process. This process will affect the paint structure and the surface flatness.
3. Application of gloss metre in topcoat curing agent industry
With a precise gloss metre, the gloss before and after the curing process of the topcoat can be detected. Through comparative analysis, a more suitable topcoat curing agent can be selected. In order to better detect and control the gloss before and after curing, we can use Linshang gloss metre.
Most gloss metres measure the surface reflectance of an object, which is called a specular gloss metre. The measurement results are different depending on the angle of incidence selected during the measurement. The larger the angle of incidence, the greater the specular reflectance and the higher the gloss. That is why high-gloss materials should be measured with a high-gloss measuring instrument at a 20-degree angle; otherwise, the lower the specular reflectance, the lower the gloss. Then we use a gloss metre with an 85-degree angle. It can be seen that the level of gloss depends not only on the surface characteristics of the object, but also on the measuring angle of the instrument.
Therefore, it is best to use the same gloss metre when testing the gloss of the topcoat curing agent before and after curing. We should use the same measurement angle to measure. Multiple experimental tests should be performed for accuracy.
Like Linshang universal 60-degree gloss testing equipment LS192, the measurement range reaches 1000GU. Both high gloss and low gloss cured paint can be tested. When there is no uniform standard in the applied industry, it can be tested with the LS192 gloss metre. If the industry has a uniform standard, it is best to use the same angle of testing. Therefore, when selecting the measurement angle, you should choose differently according to different situations.