brochure du système de mesure DIGIDROP de GBX Scientific Ltd

Rethinking Surface Measurement

Energy of Liquid–Solid and Liquid–Liquid Interactions

Precision is not a specification. It is a system property. Most contact angle instruments focus on isolated parameters. DIGIDROP is designed to control the entire measurement chain—from drop formation to data processing.

Designed for demanding laboratories and industrial environments, DIGIDROP delivers highly reproducible wettability and surface energy data by controlling the parameters that truly impact measurement quality: optics, drop formation, baseline detection, and data processing.

Where conventional systems fall short

• Manual alignment using micrometric screws
• Limited control of drop deposition dynamics
• Fixed architectures with low adaptability
• Opaque data processing

The result is operator-dependent variability. DIGIDROP addresses these limitations at the system level.

GBX Scientific Ltd - Unit B15 - Whitestown Way - South City Business Park - Tallaght - co. Dublin - Ireland

Dual Motion Architecture – Precision by Design

Decoupling positioning from measurement

• Motorized stage ? sample positioning
• Mobile syringe ? droplet control

Automated sample alignment

The motorized stage enables:

• Rapid and reproducible alignment
• Elimination of manual adjustments
• Consistent measurement geometry

Each experiment starts from a controlled configuration. This architecture ensures:

• Reduced operator influence
• High repeatability
• Improved accuracy
• Faster workflows

Quick Insertion, No Adjustment Required

Advanced Interfacial Control – Beyond Static Measurement

From wettability to interfacial dynamics

DIGIDROP extends beyond static measurements through an integrated syringe platform combining thermal regulation and piezoelectric actuation.

Thermally regulated syringe

• Stabilization of liquid properties
• Elimination of thermal drift
• Temperature-dependent measurements

Temperature is controlled at the droplet formation point.

Piezoelectric actuation

• Controlled micro-oscillations
• Dynamic interface perturbation
• Time-resolved measurements

An integrated measurement approach

DIGIDROP enables:

• Coupled thermal–mechanical–optical analysis
• High-sensitivity experiments
• Advanced characterization without additional systems

Modular Architecture – Configurable by Design

Rapid System Reconfiguration

DIGIDROP is built as a modular platform where each functional element can be repositioned or reconfigured without complex mechanical intervention.

Reconfigured System

• From complete system to custom configuration:
• Optical system repositioning
• Sample stage reconfiguration
• Syringe module exchange or relocation
• Direct access to all components

Flexibility without compromise

• Fast transition between measurement modes
• Adaptation to complex or non-standard samples
• Integration of advanced modules
• Reduced setup time

One platform. Multiple configurations. No compromise on measurement quality.

Measurement Capabilities

Contact Angle

• Range: 0° to 180°
• Modes: static, advancing, receding, dynamic
• Repeatability: down to ±0.1° (typical, controlled conditions)
• Analysis: Young-Laplace, circle, ellipse

Surface & Interfacial Tension

• Method: pendant drop
• Range: 1 to 1000 mN/m
• Repeatability: down to ±0.1 mN/m (typical)
• Dynamic measurements supported

Surface Energy

• Owens-Wendt
• Wu
• Zisman
• Polar/dispersive models

Engineered for Measurement Fidelity

• High-resolution optical system
• Low-distortion imaging
• Robust baseline detection
• Transparent data processing

The objective is not to calculate an angle, but to measure a physical interface.

Applications

• Pharmaceuticals
• Materials science
• Coatings and inks
• Electronics
• Surface treatment and cleaning validation
• Research laboratories

SMART IDEAS CREATE SMART INSTRUMENTS
Unit B15 - Whitestown Way South City Business Park - Tallaght | Co. Dublin | Ireland
Tel: +353 1 513 4137
contact-angle.com | gbxonline.com