Patent · US Expired

Gel point sensor

US6191430A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
2References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 20, 1998
Grant dateFeb 20, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 20, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2021/556
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A comparison of the specular and diffused radiation reflected from a coating can be used in ratio to locate the gel point of the coating, and to monitor coating drying characteristics. This same system may be used to monitor the drying process of the coatings in a lab setting to characterize the drying process, optimize coating quality or optimize mill efficiency. A system implementing the Applicant's method uses a radiation source to illuminate a measurement location on the coating, and then provides a first and second radiation detectors to detect reflected radiation from the coating, originating from the radiation source. One of the radiation detectors is arranged to collect specular radiation. The second detector is arranged to collect only diffused radiation. The ratio of these two values represents information about the location of the gel point for the coating, and coating drying characteristics.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.