Specifications include, but are not limited to: The University of Maine – Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) is seeking responses to provide a surface Contact Angle Analysis System as defined in this document. This document provides instructions for submitting responses, the procedure, and criteria by which the Respondent(s) will be selected, and the contractual terms which will govern the relationship between the University and the awarded Respondent(s). Contact angle analysis is a powerful and quick method to characterize the surface energy of a substrate by quantifying the geometry of a liquid drop sitting on the substrate. This analysis in the past has been used to augment basic materials research in fiber-filled composite polymers. Contact angle analysis has played a crucial role at this institution (UM-ASCC) in decision-making around novel thermoplastic composite formulations. The technology will allow UM-ASCC researchers to gain crucial insight into compatibility of components within novel composites. • System must include a heating chamber and needle heating device capable of temperatures up to +700°C for highly viscous materials including molten polymers, waxes, and metal alloys. • System must include a high-definition camera capable of recording at least 3000 frames per second, which is critical for proper measurement of high speed wetting and absorption processes. • Optics must include a 6.5X (or better) zoom lens allowing measurement of liquid droplet volumes from 20 microliters to as small as 10 nanoliters. • Software included must be capable of calculating the surface free energy of a substrate according to multiple methods. • System must include lighting with manual and software-controlled intensity, including automatic temperature drift compensation. • Syringe unit must allow piston travel speeds of 0.2 μm/s up to 10 mm/s for a high precision, variable dosing rate. • Syringe unit must be easily upgradeable to hold two syringes for simultaneous measurements and potentially capable of delivering droplets to 10 nanoliters with a nanoliter dosing accessory.
