European DEA Seminar for Cure Monitoring

participants of our first European DEA seminar
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How can one tell whether the curing process for a paint, adhesive or polymer resin has finished? Or how far along curing has progressed, or how high the degree of curing is? Dielectric Analysis (DEA) can answer questions like these – not only in routine laboratory work, but also in situ.

NETZSCH-Gerätebau GmbH held its first European DEA seminar on June 26th - 27th, 2007. We had the pleasure of welcoming a total of 15 participants from Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Denmark, Austria and Germany at this seminar in Frankfurt. Both long-time DEA specialists and newcomers in the field of cure monitoring took part in this event.

The first day focused on describing the DEA technique and its most varied applications. Following an introduction to the field of Thermal Analysis and especially to Dielectric Analysis by Dr. Gabriele Kaiser, Head of the Education and Training Department at NETZSCH-Gerätebau GmbH in Selb, the employment of DEA as an in situ measuring method for conductive thermoplastics was presented by Dr. Dirk Lellinger of DKI in Darmstadt. Stephan Knappe, Head of the Department for Sales & Applications Support at NETZSCH-Gerätebau GmbH, reported in detail about the DEA instrument technique, focusing especially on the new features of DEA sensors and accessories. After lunch, Jürgen Zöller of the NETZSCH Sales Department introduced the latest product developments at NETZSCH Analyzing & Testing. Dr. Harald Preu of Infineon Technologies in Regensburg gave a lecture using measuring examples to illustrate the successful use of DEA in the manufacturing of supra-conductors. Martin Rosentritt from the University of Regensburg presented the different influences involved in the UV-curing of dental masses. Practical applications in the paints and adhesives sector were presented by Stephan Knappe, whereby particularly high interest was shown in the thermokinetic analysis of DEA measuring data for calculation of the degree of curing.

The first day ended with a city tour through the old part of downtown Frankfurt and dinner together afterwards.

The following day, correlations between the DEA technique and other thermoanalytical measuring methods such as DSC and DMA were illustrated by Dr. Gabriele Kaiser. Michael Grüner, also of the NETZSCH Sales Department, presented the various DEA sensor types for different applications. With that, the practical part of our session had begun. At two DEA working stations, handling and software were demonstrated, measurements on epoxy resin systems were carried out, and measurement results were discussed. Great emphasis was thereby placed on the different influencing factors such as sensor choice, sample coating thickness, sample preparation, measuring parameters and curve interpretation. Afterwards, Martin Kränzler from Automotive Lighting in Reutlingen lectured about his experiences using inline cure monitoring for a continuous paint process.

During the final discussion, a proposition was raised to have an annual users’ meeting for sharing experiences; this met with the interest of all participants. The next DEA seminar in 2008 will therefore also be combined with a users’ meeting.