DataPhysics introduces liquid dosing system for contact angle measuring devices

With the FlexDrop, an innovative dosing system has been developed for the contact angle measuring devices of the OCA series from DataPhysics Instruments, which can dose particularly tiny drops on the smallest surface areas. The contact angle measuring devices of the OCA series are high-precision systems for the characterization of interfaces and surfaces. The FlexDrop dispensing system now extends the possibilities of liquid dispensing for contact angle and surface energy measurements. The innovative piezo dosing technology of the FlexDrop dosing system and the precise control make it possible to position drops on the smallest surface areas. The FlexDrop dosing system can dose drops with minimal volume - in the picoliter and nanoliter range - reproducibly and with pinpoint accuracy. For the first time, users can carry out measurements on two drops just two millimeters apart without having to reposition the dosing unit. Such close positioning of the drops was not possible with previous dosing systems as a one-click measurement. In future, the smallest surface areas can be inspected quickly and precisely - whether on electronic components or on curved or structured surfaces. The simultaneous dosing of two drops with minimal spacing is particularly advantageous for determining the surface energy of solid surfaces, for which at least two test liquids are required. With contact angle measuring devices of the OCA series, equipped with a FlexDrop dosing system, the surface energy can be measured with just one click.

Due to the small drop size, cleaning the sample is particularly easy, as the drops evaporate from the surface without leaving any residue. This is a particular advantage if the measurement is part of the quality control of components that are subsequently reused. The FlexDrop dosing system is equipped with interchangeable cartridges for the test liquids. Users can change the cartridges in a few simple steps; cleaning is completely eliminated. The use of different cartridges with different liquids also eliminates the risk of cross-contamination of the liquids. With FlexDrop, Droptical and DataPhysics Instruments have realized the first joint product ready for series production. "During development, the main focus was on ensuring that the dosed drop volumes can be generated reproducibly. This enables users to achieve precise dosing, especially for particularly small drops," says Matthias Leininger, co-founder of Droptical, and continues: "In collaboration with DataPhysics Instruments, we were able to develop the prototype of our drop generator into a market-ready product last year. "Dr. Sebastian Schaubach, Managing Director of DataPhysics Instruments, adds: "We are very pleased that, together with Droptical, we have achieved this breakthrough in the further development of dosing systems for contact angle measurements. We believe that with the FlexDrop dispensing system we can offer our customers a tangible advantage over other systems. This applies both to the elimination of sample cleaning after measurement and the 1-click measurement of surface energy." FlexDrop allows the most accurate measurements on the smallest surface areas with reproducible drop volumes in the picoliter and nanoliter range. The superior technology makes FlexDrop an indispensable tool for laboratories, research facilities and development departments.