Film Applicator MULTICATOR 411 Film Applicators Spiral Film Applicator Model 358 Film Applicator according to BIRD, Model 284 Film Applicator BAKER 286 Every test on surface coating materials requires specimen panels on which the coating film has been applied evenly in a defined thickness. The most important and commonest method of producing such panels is the film applicator with applicator blade or spiral, which is drawn across the panel by hand or electric motor drive. ERICHSEN Film Applicators are designed to be convenient and easy to use and to clean.

1. In defining coating thickness, we have to differentiate between • Theoretical wet film thickness • Practical wet film thickness and The theoretical wet film thickness is the height of the applicator blade above the substrate. However, when the applicator is drawn across the substrate a shearing effect is observed in the film and this is dependent on the flow properties of the coating material and the speed with which the applicator is moved. The effect of this is that the practical wet film thickness is less than the theoretical. (In general, practical wet film thickness = approx. 60 - 70%...

The grooves formed between the windings of the applicator have the effect of producing a wet film of defined thickness (Fig. 5). The theoretical film thickness is controlled by the gaps between the windings of the spiral. The roller with the spiral is held in a bracket with handle (Fig. 4). The instrument is corrosion resisting. Film Applicator MULTICATOR 411, with 2 micrometer screws Ordering Information Model 421/II

The engraved step numbers refer to the bearing face of the invisible drawn down edge. The 4 gap heights of the Film Applicator BAKER 286 (Fig. 9) result from the different zero levels ground into the bearing faces of the metal blocks at the end. The difference in height to the centre cylinder serving as drawing edge, forms the corresponding gap clearance. The standard version is available with 4 different gap heights of 30, 60, 90 and 120 pm and 3 film widths of 60, 75 or 100 mm. The instrument is corrosion resisting. Further applicators for the laboratory included in our programme: • COATMASTER...