Drying Time Testers

When developing a process, it is often important to know the exact time it takes for a coating to dry or cure.

There are many stages to the coating drying time. Once a coating has been has been applied, the first stage is that the coating levels off under gravity. Once a coating begins to cure, a thin dry film appears on the surface. The coating then continues to dry and finally after a period of time, the coating is totally cured.

But how do you know when a coating is totally dry?

Using an Elcometer Drying Time Recorder, the operator can easily identify each of the stages of the drying process.

A ball tip is placed into the coating and, using the mathematical formula : Distance = Speed x Time; the Elcometer Drying Time Recorder begins to move this ball at a predefined speed. As the coating dries, the trace left in the coating by the ball identifies each stage of the cure.

Please click on the appropriate image or on the heading for more information about each instrument.

	Elcometer 5500 Circular Ball Type Drying Time Recorder The Elcometer 5500 Circular Ball Type Drying Time Recorder is simple device uses ball type stylus which turns in a circle at a set rate. The drying time is evaluated from the condition of the trace, and measured with a template with time markings.
	Elcometer 5300/2 Ball Type Drying Time Recorder The Elcometer 5300/2 Ball Type Drying Time Recorder allows the user to determine the drying time of up to ten coatings at once. Ten hemispherical tipped rods are fitted to a carriage and brought into contact with the freshly applied coating. The carriage moves at a determined rate and the graduated ruler on the unit, together with the trace, indicates the drying time.
	Elcometer 5100 Payne Permeability Cups The Elcometer 5100 Payne Permeability Cups are made entirely of anodised aluminium, the permeability cup is used to determine the permeability of films of paint, varnish, plastic, cellophane, etc. Conforms to ISO, ASTM, NFT.