Table of Contents
What Is Dyne Testing?
Dyne Testing is a simple and effective quality method for measuring the surface energy of materials, widely used for quality assurance across various industries.
If you have Dyne Pens or Inks, please read on. If you’re looking to buy then you can from Ebble.Shop
Overview of Dyne Testing Methods
This guide explains how to use Dyne Test Pens and Inks to obtain accurate results. The methods for Type A (purple) and Type B (yellow) inks are the same. While we may refer to Dyne Pens, Dyne Inks or Dyne Test Bottles, the general method and the results are the same.
If you don’t know which version of pens, inks, Type A or Type B you need, you can read more about the differences here: Dyne Pens and Dyne Test Inks – Buyers Guide
For technical information, refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for Dyne Pens and Inks, available for download at the bottom of the page.
Test Ink and Dyne Pen Background
Dyne pens and Dyne inks contain the same liquids. Type A inks, which are more hazardous but manufactured to ISO 8296 quality standards, are contrasted with Type B inks, which are safer and more generic. ISO 8296 is a global standard for the manufacturing and use of these inks. Type B inks are produced by Ebble Group and may differ from products manufactured by other suppliers.
Both types of inks meet high, repeatable standards and can measure the total surface energy of a material. While both inks are valid for testing you may see different results between them due to the chemistry involved with each ink and the compatibility with different materials.
Safety and Preparation
Dyne Pens and Inks come with safety requirements. Please refer to the safety data sheet for detailed information. With any version it is recommended to use gloves and goggles and to avoid ingestion and inhalation. Additionally, the dye in the inks can cause staining.
The ink left behind will need to be cleaned, so it’s handy to have paper roll to clean up.
It can be recommended due to reactions with the material that Type A are not used for Plasticised PVC, and Type B are not used for Polypropylene, however, in practice we find that you can use these inks on any material and while they may not give perfect results, they will give repeatable results.
For instance, if a 46 dyne value indicates a pass and good production performance happens at this level when you run testing, use it.
Reading Test Results
Both dyne pen and dyne ink test methods are the same, observe the result within the first THREE (3) seconds. The inks can react with air, evaporate, or flash off over time. Results observed after a minute will be inaccurate.
When test ink is applied, one of four outcomes may occur:
- Beading Up: The liquid forms beads, indicating that the surface energy is significantly lower than the ink’s value. Move to a lower value to find the pass level.
- Not Beading, but Inconsistent: The result might be close to the ink’s value, or indicate a reaction between the material and the ink. Adjust the value up or down for a clearer result.
- Constant Film: The surface energy is at least the value of the ink. This is a pass. Move up a value to find the fail level.
- Spreading and Flowing: The surface energy is significantly higher than the ink’s value, indicating a strong pass. Move up a value to determine the fail level.
The material being tested in this image passes at 30 dynes and fails at 60 dynes. It is easy to see the difference with these two pens but the range is perhaps a little too big to be useful.
The second step in this test would be to try the next values up and down – a 34 dyne pen and a 56 dyne pen for example and see if the reaction is the same.
One tricky part of testing with either pens or ink bottles is the amount you’re putting down, and it’s this point that can make the inks a little subjective. Apply a lot of ink and gravity will take over, pulling the liquid down and wetting the surface. Alternatively, only applying a very thin light amount of ink gives a fail.
This can be difficult to avoid for even a professional user and is another reason why using larger jumps between values is important so when there are differences, it’s easy to spot. Personally, we look to leave enough that there is ink left behind, certainly not a light brush with the pen, but also not so much that we’re flooding the material.
How to Use Dyne Pens
- Preparation: Remove the cap and ensure ink is flowing to the nib by pressing firmly to release ink into the nib.
- Application: Hold the pen perpendicular to the surface and draw a line about 5-10 cm long.
- Observation and Clean Up: Observe the result within the first 3 seconds only, replace the pen lid, and clean the surface.
Moving the pen along the material surface to leave a visible line is your aim. Watch the line straight away as the test is to observe within the fist three seconds.
After this the ink can dry out and solvents in the ink can flash away which changes the value.
Ensure the surface is clean and free from release agents, processing oils, or grease to avoid damaging the pen nib. If in doubt of the surface cleanliness, it is recommended to use the test inks with single use swabs.
How to Use Dyne Inks
The general method for test inks with swabs is the same as Dyne Pens, observe and read results in the same way but simply use the single use swab once and then move on.
Swabs don’t always leave as much ink as the pens, which can be a good and a bad thing. It works well when trying to look at smaller areas and trying to be more technical, but it can be trickier to see when there’s less liquid on the surface.
- Preparation: Open the ink bottle and dip a single-use swab to cover it with ink. Dab off any excess.
- Application: Apply the swab to the surface at a 45-90 degree angle, leaving a 5-10 cm trail of ink.
- Clean up: Dispose of used swabs in a container to prevent contamination and avoid staining.
Whether you’re using Type A (Toxic ISO8296) or Type B (Non Toxic) the method is the same.
There may be variation if you compare A vs B due to the chemistry and interaction with the specific material you’re testing.
When quoting values for dyne testing, it’s sensible to mention the test method used.
Understanding the Results
Observe the ink to identify the pass and fail levels. The surface energy is between these two values. For example, if 40 dynes is a pass and 44 dynes is a fail, the surface energy is between 40 and 44 dynes.
Giving a range, or measuring a lower pass value than the ultimate material surface energy is sensible for using inks and pens. Measuring to exactly one or two dynes can be difficult, but looking at them in general can give very clear results.
Considerations
Dyne Test Inks, whether Type A or B, provide quick and general measurements of surface energy. They are ideal for assessing low or high surface energy materials but do not offer precise values. For exact measurements, the Contact Angle method is recommended.
Different methods and types of inks may yield slightly different results due to how the liquids interact with materials. It is advisable to verify that the surface energy you measure meets your performance needs. Do not rely solely on manufacturer specifications without confirmation.
