Sept 2013, BYK-Gardner USA, a member of the BYK Additives & Instruments division of ALTANA and the manufacturer and distributor of quality control instruments for color, appearance and physical properties testing introduces a new instrument to objectively detect and quantify fluorescent light excited in the visible range: the BYK-mac i spectrophotometer.
The BYK-mac i is equipped with additional out-of-plane sensors that measure the fluorescent light in clearly defined wavelength ranges. To quantify the fluorescent light, BYK-mac i calculates a new index known as the “Intensity Emission value” which can be used as a preliminary indicator for light fastness.
Due to the highly stable LED illumination, fluorescent color measurements can now be repeatable with one BYK-mac (no warm-up time, no temperature drift) and reproducible from BYK-mac to BYK-mac (no lamp aging). This allows usage of digital standards among the complete supply chain – the key to global color QC management.
The new BYK-mac i spectrophotometer, as well as its renowned predecessor the BYK-mac, objectively measures total color impression of effect coatings:
Flake characterization: by measuring with a camera the visual impression of sparkling and graininess, simulating effect changes under direct and diffuse lighting conditions
Multi-angle color measurement: “before and behind the specular reflection” to give more information about color travel of special effect finishes
The shape of the BYK-mac i is designed to ensure easy handling and true portability. In order to guarantee stable readings on flat and curved samples, the BYK-mac i is equipped with trigger pins on the bottom plate of the instrument. Quality control of effect finishes is made truly efficient with menu guided operation according to customer specific sampling procedures, designated buttons for standard and sample readings and a large, easy-to-read color display. For further analysis and professional documentation of measurement results, the BYK-mac i comes with the software, smart-chart, for process control and lab analysis with online mode.
About BYK Additives & Instruments:
BYK Additives & Instruments is one of the world’s leading suppliers in the additives and instruments sector. Approximately 87% of our sales are generated by foreign countries. Our major export markets are Europe, the United States, and the Far East.
Additives are chemical substances that are used in small quantities to improve product properties such as scratch resistance or surface gloss. Manufacturing processes are also optimized through the use of additives.
The coatings, printing inks, and plastics industries are some of the main areas of application of BYK additives. Yet in paper surface finishing, or the production of adhesives and sealants as well as construction chemistry, BYK additives are also improving the product properties and production processes. In 2009 BYK extended its portfolio with raw materials for the production of mold release agents for aluminum die casting.
BYK Instruments can quantify the quality of color and gloss and the physical properties of paint, plastic and paper products. Instruments from BYK are predominantly used for quality control.
BYK Additives & Instruments is a member of ALTANA, Wesel. ALTANA develops and produces high-quality, innovative products in the sector of specialty chemicals.
BYK Additives & Instruments employs around 1,400 people worldwide, 25% of whom work in research and development departments or technical laboratories.
Contact information
BYK-Gardner USA
9104 Guilford Road
Columbia, MD 21046
Phone 800-343-7721 or 301-483-6500
Fax 800- 394-8215 or 301-483-6555
Email [email protected]
Web www.byk.com