Paint Drying Morphology Monitoring Using 3D Profilometry

Paint is usually applied in a liquid form and progressively dries into a solid. The drying process involves evaporation of the solvent and formation of a solid film. The paint surface progressively changes its shape and texture during the drying process. Different surface finish and texture can be developed by using miscellaneous additives to modify the surface tension and flow properties of the paint. However, undesired failures of the paint may occur in the cases of bad paint recipe or improper treatment of the surface. Accurate in situ monitoring of the shape evolution during the paint drying period can provide direct insight into the drying mechanism. Moreover, real-time evolution of surface morphologies is very useful information in various applications, such as 3D printing. The Nanovea 3D Non-Contact Profilometer measures the surface morphology of materials without touching the sample, avoiding any shape alteration which may be caused by contact technologies such as sliding stylus.

Paint Drying Morphology Monitoring Using 3D Profilometry