Formed Film Applicator Rods
Article No. 10384
Formed Rod, 2.8 mils, 1/2" dia.
Formed Applicator Rods also known as film applicators, grooved rods, and drawdown bars, give users the ability to fine-tune coating thickness quickly and easily. Our formed rods are machined from a solid steel rod and closely resemble our wire-wound rods. They provide extremely precise metered coatings on film, tin, rubber, boards, plastics, glass, textiles and so much more.
Features
- No wires to break
- Easier Cleanup
- Less Expensive
- Uniform spacing
- Little change to overall dia.
- Formed - the grooves have a wide radius at the bottom (like a "U")
- Wire Wound - the "valley" between windings comes to a point (like a "V")
- Applications: Adhesives, Board, Cellulose, Ceramic Colors, Cosmetics, Driers, Duplicating Inks, Emulsions, Fillers, Floor Polishes, Lacquers, Metallic Powders, Oils, Paper, Photographic Papers, Pigments, Plastics, Printing Inks, Resins, Varnishes, Waxes and Hotmelts
Technical Attributes
-
- Rod Length & Diameter
- 16" x 1/2"
-
- Approximate Wet Film Thickness
- 2.8 mils / 71.1 µm
-
- Data
-
Core: 303 Stainless Steel Wire: 302 Stainless Steel Core Diameter: +0 to -0.5 mils Wire Diameter: +0 to -0.5 mils Core Straightness: 0.006”/ 12”
Procedure
Drawdowns are an inexpensive method of making laboratory samples to determine coating thickness, substrate penetration, fluid compatibility, bond strength, etc. Drawdown rods enable the technician to perform these tests with a minimum of effort. The procedure is as follows:
- Attach (or tape) a sample of the most suitable substrate to the glass surface of the Drawdown Plate.
- Using a spatula, place a small pool of coating liquid near the top of the sample sheet.
- Immediately grasp the ends of the Drawdown Rod. Using the thumbs of both hands to keep the rod from bowing or bending away from the sample, draw the rod down through the liquid pool spreading and metering the fluid across the sample sheet. As the drawdown is made, note the behavior of the coating and any possible reaction with the substrate. (Note: It may be convenient to construct a small trough of cardboard to catch the excess liquid as it is drawn to the bottom edge of the drawdown board.) Immerse rod in Cleaning Tray after use.
- The coated sample is now ready for testing.
- If the coating application is too thin, use a rod with a larger diameter wire. Hence, if the coating is too thick, use a rod with a smaller diameter wire.
Other Variations