Author : Manish Thakker, Rashmi Joshi , Dinesh O.Shah and Premal Shukla

 
Solid liquid contact angle measurement Instrument is investigated that will measured contact angle as per the ASTM standard D7334 using liquid drop shape analysis profile. This research work involved extensive use of LabVIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench) software by National Instrument which provide cost effective and reliable solution for the system. In addition, it also include hardware design using fire wire monochrome camera – 60 fps(frame per second) with lance. Entire software is prepared using LabVIEW vision module and fundamental tools of LabVIEW. In this paper systematic approach is presented for designing of CA Instrument. High end features likes selection of frame, single frame and multi frame selection, report generation in Microsoft excel, user logging information were developed to make professional application software. Manual 1000 μL gas tight piston syringe from Hamilton is used to place drop on substrate. Sample stage is placed between camera and high intensity blue LED light. When drop is released from tip of syringe needle, camera is grabbing frames as per user command in software. After acquiring frame user has to select single frame or multi frame and accordingly based on circle profile algorithm software calculate contact angle and generate report. This Instrument will be very useful for research center, industrial R & D and academic Institution.

Keywords: Contact angle, wettability, LabVIEW vision, Drop Shape analysis, ASTMD7334

Article published in International Journal of Current  Engineering  and Technology, Vol.3,No.3(Aug- 2013)