SBIR Phase I: Novel Surface Free Energy Sensor

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将开发一种实时表面能传感器，该传感器可以集成到现有的表面处理系统中，以提供过程控制反馈。该传感器基于快速微润湿测量，对表面自由能的响应非常灵敏。润湿测量是测定表面自由能的标准技术，但速度慢且操作不便。所提出的方法包括在表面上弹道沉积微量的探针流体。伴随沉积的振动极大地促进了表面平衡润湿的实现。分析液滴图像，根据液滴体积和平均直径确定液滴与表面相切形成的角度，该角度是已知的表面自由能函数。完成这项任务的设备可以很容易地集成到现有的机器人部署的表面处理设备中。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是通过快速、自动化和定量控制表面处理性能来提高制成品的质量和产量。它将允许在实验室环境中使用数十年的定量表面能测量过渡到自动化制造控制环境。加深对各种表面处理工艺对表面能的程度和均匀性的影响以及这些性质与附着力的关系的理解，将增强科学和技术的理解。该项目将允许更高效，更高产量的制造工艺，这将增加我们国内制造业的竞争力。这项技术的最初市场将包括汽车OEM。s及其供应商、医疗设备制造商、消费和工业电子产品制造商以及食品包装制造商。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a realtime surface energy sensor that can be integrated into existing surface treatment systems to provide process control feedback. This sensor is based on a rapid microwetting measurement that is exceptionally responsive to surface free energy. Wetting measurements are a standard technique for determining surface free energies, but are slow and unwieldy to perform. The proposed approach involves ballistic deposition of a minute quantity of a probe fluid onto the surface. The vibration that accompanies deposition greatly facilitates attainment of equilibrium wetting of the surface. An image of the droplet is analyzed to determine the angle formed by the droplet tangent and the surface from drop volume and average diameter, which is a known function of the surface free energy. The equipment to accomplish this task can be readily integrated into existing robotically deployed surface treatment devices.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be to improve quality and yield of manufactured products through rapid, automated, and quantitative control of surface treatment properties. It will allow quantitative surface energy measurements, used for decades in laboratory settings, to transition into automated manufacturing control environments. Scientific and technological understanding will be enhanced by a deeper understanding of the effect of various surface treatment processes on extent and uniformity of surface energy and of the relationship of these properties to adhesion. This project will allow for more efficient, higher yield manufacturing processes that will increase the competitiveness of our domestic manufacturing. The initial market for this technology will include automotive OEM?s and their Tier suppliers, medical device manufacturers and manufacturers of consumer and industrial electronics, and food packaging.