The water break test is a common way for manufacturers to test the surface cleanliness of metals. Compared to other legacy cleanliness tests, it is relatively simple to perform, however, the results rely almost entirely ...
Time is always of the essence for medical device manufacturers. When a medical breakthrough needs to make it to market there is no time to waste. There is also no margin for ...
Manufacturing processes can, on the surface, appear to be an amorphous web of convoluted conveyors and machinating machinery. But taking a closer look through the eyes of a ...
The Water Break Test as a Surface Measurement Gauge
How to Bond PTFE to Anything
Verification vs. Validation for Medical Device Product Quality Assurance
Single vs Multi-fluid Contact Angle Techniques Part 1: Surface energy and the attractions between substances
How to Know if Hydrophilic Coatings on Medical Devices Provide the Necessary Comfort for Patients
Plasma Treatment: Advanced Surface Treatment Method
One of the most frustrating aspects of experiencing a problem in manufacturing isn't necessarily the issue itself, but rather, it's the difficulty of accurately determining and ...
The Study of Goniometer Measurements Contact angle goniometry is the study of the characterization of liquid/solid interactions. The first benchtop goniometer designed at the NRL ...
Comfort is more than just a nice thing to hope for when it comes to medical devices like tubing, catheters and stents that are implanted into the human body. Comfort, in this ...
Since COVID-19 has reshaped the economic landscape for the foreseeable future and there are many questions about how to safely and effectively respond to it, now is a good time ...
A major problem for manufacturers is a problem of sensitivity. There is a rampant lack of sensitivity to material surfaces for companies across every manufacturing industry. ...
Validation and verification are inextricable from product development and process design for the manufacturing of medical devices. To satisfy regulatory standards, reduce risk, ...
This is part two of a two-part series explaining the finer points of BTG Labs’ approach to helping companies build reliability into their cleaning and adhesion processes through ...
This is part one of a two-part series explaining the finer points of BTG Labs’ approach to helping companies build reliability into their cleaning and adhesion processes through ...
An exciting development is taking place to make surface quality and cleanliness inspection technology more available to all manufacturers. We have collaborated with ASTM ...
When thinking about what manufacturing looks like, most people envision sparks flying, metal clanking and fires blazing. This isn’t too far off the mark since metals have been ...
Polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE is a very common material in wide use among almost every major industry. This ultra-lubricious and multi-use fluoropolymer touches everyone from ...
The way we work, live, and fundamentally interact with each other inevitably changes over time; sometimes those changes come much more rapidly than we anticipate or hope to see. ...
Defining “clean” is actually more complicated than it sounds. Cleanliness can be in the eye of the beholder (I mean, we all had a college roommate who swore they were tidy, but ...
When adhesion issues become apparent in a manufacturing process, they can seem to come out of nowhere. When coatings on circuit boards delaminate and cause shorts; when automotive ...
In order to create predictable adhesion outcomes in manufacturing, precision is key. When thinking about the success of a bonding, printing, coating, sealing, painting or cleaning ...
New Product Development is an essential component to the successful growth of companies who always challenge themselves to improve and innovate. Getting this design stage right is ...
In manufacturing it is extremely difficult to eliminate all inefficiencies and production deficits. Setbacks that come in the form of scrap rates and rework resulting from product ...
Dyne solutions have been the most common method of quality checking material surface cleanliness for decades. Their ubiquity and low cost have led them to be heavily relied upon ...
Regulatory specifications in manufacturing exist to ensure that the highest quality, safest and most useful products are created. These are devised internally through research and ...
Production processes don’t just materialize, fully-formed on the manufacturing floor. Procedures and operations go through a full research and development cycle which can take ...
Manufacturers utilize research and design laboratories all the time. To scale new products up to the production line, years of toiling in testing labs is done to ensure that ...
Automation is inherently fascinating. Robotic arms, programmed workflows and smart data. These innovations are populating the manufacturing space and are changing the landscape of ...
Manufacturing processes that involve bonding, coating, sealing, printing, painting, laminating or cleaning need a metric to measure the surface quality of the materials involved. ...
Supply chain control is crucial to ensuring that the time, money and labor put into a production process doesn’t go to waste. Managing what comes into the production process has a ...
Various industries have different names for ways they change material surfaces during a production process. In medical fields and other industries dealing with high-reliability ...
There are times when trying to discern if adhesion in manufacturing will succeed seems like a deeply mysterious and opaque puzzle. The water break test is a simple and fairly ...
Manufacturers often have a large blind spot when it comes to the causes of adhesion problems. This blind spot makes it impossible to solve these problems and generates frustration ...
Disclaimer: this article is not about COVID-19, it is about a surface treatment process for better adhesion in manufacturing. If you're looking for information about cleaning, ...
The BTG Labs suite of tools, that enable manufacturers and technicians to fully control their adhesion processes, has a new addition. The Surface Analyst 2001 introduces new ...
The pervasiveness of electronics in every manufacturing industry has provided unique challenges. Manufacturers are tasked with protecting these componentsin environments that make ...
When a material begins its journey through a manufacturing process it becomes crucial to know and control everything that happens to that material as it makes its way down the ...
Ever wonder what a hungry BTG Process Engineer is pondering while preparing the turkey for the feast of gratitude to be shared around the Thanksgiving table? The sharp minds at ...
What is a Critical Control Point? A Critical Control Point (CCP) is any point in the manufacturing process where the surface condition of a material has the opportunity to ...
This article was co-written by Elizabeth Kidd, BTG Labs' Custom Applications Scientist and Research and Development Chemist. Coating and adhesive bonding are extremely common ...
The wait is finally over. Making its world debut at MD&M in Minneapolis, the Surface Analyst XA integrates the power, simplicity and ease of our handheld Surface Analyst directly ...
In the diverse and ever-growing world of medical devices, particularly those involving polymeric tubing, it is always crucial, and not always easy, to test and definitively ...
Partnering with Plastics Technology, BTG Labs held a webinar about a topic that’s attracting a lot of attention.
What do both of these statements about surface adhesion have in common? “We need to measure surface quality of the teeth on a gear to make sure the coating stays on.” “We need to ...
Adhesion failure in manufacturing is an opportunity in disguise for exceptional business growth...if you do the work to understand the why behind your failures. Say what?
Real-time data. New industry buzzword? Or a new generation of process and quality control?
“We didn’t even know we were having process problems.” It’s an all-too-common phrase we hear from our customers, when they realize the level of understanding available to them now ...
Incoming! What’s that sound? That’s the sound of manufacturers not having a supplier specification created for incoming materials in their operation. It’s like the old piece of ...
When most of us think of gold, we think of watches, rings, necklaces and even teeth. For electronics manufacturer’s, gold is one of the highest quality and most electrically ...
“We’re manufacturing catheters, but currently we don’t have a reliable way to prove to the FDA that our plasma treatment process is effective and in control” It's no surprise ...
The quality of a process should be left up to chance. This is commonly the approach that has been taken by manufacturers when working to control their adhesion preparation ...
When it comes to preparing raw materials for adhesion in manufacturing, optimizing the level of surface preparation is directly related to achieving the highest quality final ...
The desktop goniometer is a widely-used and accepted method of obtaining surface energy measurements of materials in the lab setting. For those unfamiliar, the goniometer uses the ...
We get our circuit boards from an international supplier and don't have a clear understanding of what the , so how can we trust they understand our concerns and are objective with ...
Image above: Medical catheters used with a custom fixture
How do we obtain FDA validation on our medical tubing when there’s no way to show quality in a measurable and specific way? A question all too commonly faced in the medical ...
Manufacturing a product to withstand the environmental stresses of wind, rain, and sediment is challenging enough. But, when you add saltwater and wave action to the mix, the ...
In some industries--including film and flexible packaging--dyne is the primary language. BTG Labs’ Surface Analyst uses water contact angle measurements as a fast easy, objective, ...
Watch BTG Labs’ latest video and learn how to gain total surface quality control with surface preparation with the push of a button. This video offers a way to better understand ...
Watch the latest BTG Labs’ video showing the Surface Analyst’s revolutionary method for optimizing critical surface processes in manufacturing. This video demonstrates how the ...
The competitive nature of the automotive industry requires manufacturers to engineer the ideal product; failures, no matter how small, are unacceptable and can bring heavy ...
BTG Labs is excited to present a new paper at the ASNT (American Soceity for Nondestructive Testing) Annual Conference 2017. Taking place in Nashville, Tennessee October 30 to ...
Join BTG Labs for another webinar presented by Chief Scientist Dr. Giles Dillingham. Tune in Tuesday, October 17 at 2 pm ET for this highly anticipated seminar. Hosted by ...
Image above: BTG Labs Sales Engineer, Derrick Merrell enjoying a game of Jenga at Pack Expo 2017. Last week, BTG Labs traveled to Las Vegas for the largest and most ...
Performing any kind of inspection on small parts can be difficult. When measuring for surface cleanliness, accessing small parts can be even more challenging, especially when ...
Parts washers play an integral role in manufacturing, especially on machined parts and bonding surfaces. Prior to coating, sealing, painting, and welding, parts washers help ...
BTG Labs Lead Sales Engineer Lucas Dillingham will present “What Manufacturers Need to Measure When Controlling Surfaces for Adhesion” at AMI’s Polymer Testing & Analysis 2017 on ...
Challenges often arise when verifying critical surface processes on the factory floor when measuring hard to reach areas and varying angles. The Surface Analyst conquers those ...
BTG Labs is pleased to announce the online shop is now live. You can now easily find and order your Surface Analyst™ accessories. Items include replacement Fluid Cartridges, ...
In the BTG Labs’ Materials and Processing laboratory, magic happens. Or, at least it seems that way. In the BTG Lab our specialists see the unseen. They reveal the invisible. ...
BTG Labs’ Surface Analyst is more than just a fast, easy, accurate, hand-held, non-destructive, objective surface cleanliness gauge. It encompasses features to personalize your ...
Every plastics manufacturer knows that bonding low energy thermoplastics can be challenging. In the upcoming webinar hosted by Plastics Technology, BTG Labs’ Chief Scientist Dr. ...
Every year for Memorial Day weekend, my family would pack up the station wagon and head to the lake. The weekend would be filled with red, white and blue, firing grills, festive ...
Manufacturers often encounter a similar puzzle, when cleaning invisible contaminants from a surface, how do you know when the surface is clean; how clean is clean enough? This is ...
Top aerospace manufactures recruit state-of-the-art equipment to ensure precision and perfection. One thing the best of the best have in common: the Surface Analyst. BTG Labs ...
There’s nothing like arriving at the course on a fresh spring morning. The sun is low, casting long shadows across the green mounds, foggy rays bring hints of warmth, a fresh, ...
What is known as The Plastics Technology Conference, ANTEC (Annual Technical Conference) 2017 brings together diverse members of the plastics industry from around the world. ...
BTG Labs will present new data on monitoring laser cleaning with Surface Analyst at ALAC (Advanced Laser Applications Conference) 2017. Taking place in Novi, Michigan from May ...
Manufacturers working with metal and worrying about metal performance are all too familiar with the obstacles that come along with coating, painting, bonding, printing, or sealing ...
It’s the first day of spring. Depending on where you live, this could mean opening the windows, planting seeds, rolling out the motorcycle, and waiting for Opening Day. Here at ...
BTG Labs' Chief Scientist Dr. Giles Dillingham recently presented at the 40th annual meeting of the Adhesion Society. An elected Fellow of the Adhesion Society, Dr. Dillingham has ...
Food packaging and print industries often face the obstacle of adhering to low energy substrates such as polypropylene. Measuring the surface’s cleanliness prior to bonding or ...
The utilization of composites increases daily in manufacturing as more ways in which to use this advanced material are discovered. Composite is a smart material that provides a ...
Flame treatment is a surface treatment process used to chemically modify a surface for better adhesion. This process is typically used on low energy surfaces that can be difficult ...
The water break test is a common way to test for surface cleanliness. It allows the user to test for the presence of hydrophobic contaminants, which can be detrimental to ...
AeroDef Manufacturing 2017 is the pivotal event for world leaders of the aerospace and defense manufacturing industry. BTG Labs is excited to exhibit, speak, and teach a course ...
Smarter Surface Processes For over a decade, manufacturers and suppliers have spoken the language of dyne when dealing with surface preparation and treatment verification. Because ...
A Frequently Asked Question BTG Labs Decided to Answer When measuring and quantifying surface energy, a common question arises: "Does roughness impact contact angle measurements ...
An Exceptional and Versatile Surface Treatment Among the various methods of surface treatment processes, plasma treatment stands as a highly respected method. Plasma treatment is ...
Lab Capabilities The history of BTG Labs is rooted in adhesion research. Originally a development lab, BTG Labs specialized in plasma polymerized coatings. The engineers worked ...
Surface Preparation in Manufacturing In manufacturing there exist critical surface preparation process requirements to ensure products are safe and reliable. There are some legacy ...
The Importance of Understanding and Controlling the Bond Surface BTG Labs will host their second webinar with Composites World. The webinar, "Understanding and Controlling the ...
Obtaining Quality and Consistency with the Surface Analyst BTG Labs' Surface Analyst™ uses a micro-liter of highly purified water to quantifiably measure contact angle. This ...
Image above: BMW i8 with a body constructed with carbon fiber composite, aluminium and special plastic. Building a More Fuel-Efficient Automobile The pursuit to produce a more ...
For years, manufactures have implemented a conventional method of testing surface energy using a solution called dyne inks. Dyne ink, when applied to a surface, can reveal the ...
With the exciting release and testing of the F-35 Lightning II, BTG Labs swells with pride over its involvement in the development of this remarkable aircraft. The F-35 Lightning ...
Evolution of Aircraft Manufacturing: Moving Towards a Lighter Material In the early 2000s, the U.S. Airforce recruited BTG Labs to aid in the development of bonding technologies ...
The Importance of Surface Cleanliness BTG Labs' Surface Analyst™ is a fast, easy, accurate, nondestructive, handheld device. It uses contact angle to measure the cleanliness level ...
Symbiosis: BTG Labs and Vapormatt BTG Labs looks forward to co-hosting a booth with Vapormatt at The Composites and Advanced Materials Expo (CAMX) 2016. The expo will take place ...
Surface Requirements of Aluminum Castings Automotive manufacturers widely utilize aluminum castings as the most successful way to create aluminum parts. However, this process can ...
AMI Medical Tubing 2016 BTG Labs will host a booth and present at the Applied Marked Information (AMI) Medical Tubing Conference September 13-14, 2016. The event will take place ...
Adhesive Bonding Repair The two principle materials used in aircraft manufacturing, metals and polymers, tote particularly reactive surfaces. This leaves them highly susceptible ...
Surface Cleanliness Gauge Comparison As part of its development, BTG Lab's Surface Analyst™ has undergone countless studies to demonstrate its effectiveness as a surface ...
Webinar: Measuring Surface Energy in Manufacturing and Repair of Composites to Assure Quality of Bonded Interfaces Thu, Jun 9, 2016 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT OVERVIEW This interactive ...
SAMPE: Leading Advanced Materials and Processes Conference
BTG Labs will be attending the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) AMS Aerospace Organization Coatings Committee (AMS G-8)’s annual meeting May 3-5. Dr. Giles Dillingham and ...
The Adhesion Science & Technology Short Course will be held February 19-20, 2016 at the Westin Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX. Adhesion and Surface Processes Dr. Giles Dillingham, ...
Image above: The Surface Analyst uses Ballistic Deposition to deposit water on diverse surfaces to measure contact angle. Fluid Deposition Style of Contact Angle Measurements ...
Automotive manufacturers who bond, seal, coat, paint, or print now have a reliable way to verify the cleanliness of their surface.
Controlling Surface Condition in FIPG Application Increasingly, FIPG processes are replacing traditional gaskets for a variety of automotive applications such as air filters, oil ...
A Deep History in Materials Science President and Chief Scientist of BTG Labs, Dr. Giles Dillingham's fascination by the connections between the invisible (the molecular structure ...
When Polymer Surfaces are Not Easily Accessible A recent collaboration between BTG Labs and 3M scientists demonstrates that the Surface Analyst™ can provide receding contact ...