TWI891454B - Method and kit for measuring adhesion - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and a kit for measuring adhesion, which are used to evaluate the degree of adhesion of substances remaining on a non-vertical surface. A weight of a sample remaining on an inner wall of a container is used in the method to calculate the degree of adhesion between the sample and the inner wall of the container. The method is used to prevent the loss of substances or reducing the processing efficiency of substances. The kit includes a container, a first cover, a second cover, and a weight measuring device. The method for measuring adhesion of the present disclosure is simple and can be applied to different industries.

Description

Method and kit for measuring adhesion

The present disclosure relates to a method and a kit for measuring adhesion, and more particularly to a method and a kit for evaluating the degree of adhesion of a sample remaining on the inner wall of a container.

The plasticity of a substance can often be measured using fluidity, viscosity, or consistency, and different fields of application often have corresponding appropriate measurement methods. For example, liquid substances like yogurt or honey can be measured for plasticity using a viscometer or rheometer. Concrete and soil are more suitable for plasticity measurement using the slump test. Near-solid cement and clay are often evaluated for plasticity using the consistency test.

However, different materials require different methods to measure plasticity, making it difficult to assess plasticity using a single method. For example, the plasticity of clay cannot be measured using a typical commercial viscometer. Furthermore, rheometers are sophisticated and expensive instruments, making obtaining plasticity information relatively costly. These conventional methods only assess the viscosity of the material itself and cannot measure the degree of adhesion between the material and the inner wall of the container.

The adhesion of a material is typically measured qualitatively and quantitatively using peel force, which is used to evaluate the surface forces between the adhesive and the adherend. For example, the rolling ball method uses the distance a ball rolls to quantify the initial adhesion of an adhesive by measuring energy loss or the force between the object and the adhesive. The peel method uses precision instruments to test the peel force at 180 and 90 degrees between an object and the adhesive to assess the adhesion between the tape and another material. The probe method uses a needle-shaped cylinder, pulled apart at a rapid speed, to measure the maximum separation force required.

However, the above-mentioned adhesion measurement method can only evaluate the adhesion between the interfaces of two substances and is not suitable for measuring the adhesion between the substance and the inner wall of the container.

In view of this, there is still a need to provide a method and kit for measuring adhesion that can solve the above problems.

The adhesion measurement method of the present invention uses the weight of the sample remaining on the inner wall of a container after contact to assess the degree of adhesion between the substance (or sample) and the inner wall of the container. The lower the degree of adhesion, the more it can prevent material loss during storage, transportation, and/or handling, and improve the efficiency of material handling. The adhesion measurement kit of the present invention is used to perform the above-mentioned adhesion measurement method. The present invention's adhesion measurement method is simple and applicable to various industries.

At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a method for measuring adhesion for evaluating the degree of adhesion of a sample (or substance) remaining on a non-vertical surface, comprising the following steps: A container is provided, wherein the container comprises: a first opening and a second opening disposed opposite each other, the first opening being smaller than the second opening; and a first lid configured to seal the first opening, wherein an inner wall of the container and the first lid define a storage space, the inner wall being non-vertical relative to the first lid, and the total weight of the container and the first lid being a first weight value (A). After sealing the first opening with the first lid, the storage space is filled with a sample, wherein the second opening is located above the first opening, and the total weight of the container, the first lid, and the sample is a second weight value (B). After covering the second opening with the second lid, turn the container, the first lid, and the sample upside down so that the first opening is above the second opening. After removing the first lid, separate the container and the second lid vertically and maintain them for a period of time, and use the second lid to collect the main part of the sample that has separated from the inner wall. After sealing the first opening with the first lid, turn the container, the first lid, and the remaining part of the sample upside down so that the second opening is above the first opening. The total weight of the container, the first lid, and the remaining part of the sample is the third weight value (C). The adhesion of the sample is calculated using the following formula: .

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the second opening includes a groove around it for accommodating the sealing strip.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the step of covering the second opening with the second cover further includes disposing a sealing strip between the second opening and the second cover.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the second cover includes a bottom surface and a plurality of retaining walls. The bottom surface has an area larger than the area of the second opening. The plurality of retaining walls are connected to each other and are disposed vertically around the bottom surface.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the container has a conical structure that tapers from the second opening toward the first opening.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the material of the container includes a high-temperature resistant material.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the first opening and the first cover include fastening structures that cooperate with each other.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the sample is a liquid, or a mixture of a solid and a liquid.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the above period of time is 30 seconds.

At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a kit for measuring adhesion for performing the above-mentioned method for measuring adhesion, wherein the kit for measuring adhesion includes a container, a first cover, a second cover, and a weighing device. The container includes a first opening and a second opening arranged opposite to each other, and the first opening is smaller than the second opening. The first cover corresponds to the first opening and is configured to close the first opening and accommodate samples with the container. The second cover includes a bottom surface and a plurality of baffles, and the area of the bottom surface is larger than the area of the second opening. The bottom surface corresponds to the second opening. The plurality of baffles are connected to each other and are erected on the outer periphery of the bottom surface, and the second cover is configured to cover the second opening or collect samples.

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different features of the present disclosure. Specific embodiments of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, in the subsequent description, reference to a first feature being formed over or on a second feature may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed so as to be in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which another feature may be formed between the first and second features such that the first and second features are not in direct contact. Furthermore, the present disclosure may repeat reference numbers and/or text in different examples. This repetition is for simplicity and clarity of description and is not intended to define the relationship between the different embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

In addition, spatially relative terms such as "below," "beneath," "below," "above," and similar terms are used herein to facilitate describing the relationship of one element or feature to another element or feature in the figures. Spatially relative terms encompass not only the orientation depicted in the figures, but also other orientations of the device during use or operation. The device can be oriented in other orientations (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptions used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

In practice, the degree of adhesion between a substance (or sample) and the inner wall of a container can affect its storage, transport, and/or handling. For example, when the degree of adhesion between sludge and the inner wall of a container is high, using an agitator dryer to heat-dry the sludge will reduce drying efficiency due to excessive adhesion of the sludge to the inner wall of the container and/or the heating paddle. Therefore, when selecting container materials, the degree of adhesion of the substance should be considered to minimize or avoid the presence of residue in the container, thereby reducing material loss and improving the efficiency of material handling.

It should be noted that the "degree of adhesion between a substance and the inner wall of a container" referred to herein refers to the weight of the substance remaining on the inner wall of the container after contact. The term "adhesion" can also be understood as the degree of adhesion of a substance. A higher degree of adhesion means more substance remains on the inner wall of the container, making it unsuitable for storing, transporting, and/or handling the substance. In this case, changing the container material may be considered to reduce adhesion, minimize material loss, and improve material handling efficiency. A lower degree of adhesion means less material remains on the inner wall of the container, making it easier to use the container to store, transport, and/or process the material, thereby increasing the efficiency of the material and reducing material loss. The term "substance (or sample)" herein may include, but is not limited to, liquids or mixtures of solids and liquids, such as, but not limited to, sludge, sludge water, concrete, soil, yogurt, honey, or syrup.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram of an adhesion measurement kit 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The adhesion measurement kit 100 includes a container 110, a first cover 120, a second cover 130, and a weighing device 140. In some embodiments, the adhesion measurement kit 100 further includes a sealing strip 150. The weighing device 140 is configured to measure weight. The adhesion measurement kit 100 is used to perform the adhesion measurement method 300 described below (as shown in FIG. 3 ).

Container 110 includes a first opening 112 and a second opening 114, which are arranged opposite each other. First opening 112 is smaller than second opening 114. In other words, the area of first opening 112 is smaller than the area of second opening 114. It is understood that container 110 is a tubular structure connecting first opening 112 and second opening 114. In some embodiments, container 110 is a tapered structure that tapers from second opening 114 toward first opening 112, as shown in FIG1 , but is not limited thereto.

As can be seen from the schematic diagram of Figure 1, the side wall 116 connecting the first opening 112 and the second opening 114 is a slope. In detail, the angle between the first opening 112 and the side wall 116 is not 90 degrees, and the angle between the second opening 114 and the side wall 116 is also not 90 degrees. In other words, the container 110 has a non-vertical side wall 116 and a non-vertical inner wall 118. Therefore, the inner wall 118 is non-vertical relative to the first cover 120. It can be understood that the inner wall 118 of the container 110 is the contact surface that contacts the sample 410 (as shown in Figure 4C). The "sample" referred to herein is the substance mentioned above. Since a portion of the substance is taken as the object to be measured for measuring the adhesion, it is called a sample.

In some embodiments, the material of the container 110 includes a high temperature resistant material, such as a metal material, but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the material of the container 110 includes plastic or glass.

Figure 2A is a partial cross-sectional view of the container 110 of Figure 1 taken along line A-A'. In some embodiments, the second opening 114 includes a groove R around it. Groove R is configured to accommodate a sealing strip 150 (shown in Figure 1). It should be noted that the sealing strip 150 is configured to tightly seal the second opening 114 and the second lid 130, preventing leakage of the sample 410 within the container 110 (shown in Figures 4D and 4F). The configuration of the sealing strip 150 is not limited to that shown in Figure 2A.

FIG2B is a partial cross-sectional view of the container 110 and the first cover 120 when combined according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The first cover 120 corresponds to the first opening 112, as shown in FIG4A . The first cover 120 is configured to seal the first opening 112 and accommodate the sample 410 together with the container 110, as shown in FIG4B and FIG4C . In detail, when the container 110 and the first cover 120 are combined, the container 110 has a structure with a single opening (i.e., the second opening 114). As shown in FIG2B , the first opening 112 and the first cover 120 include a fastening structure 113 that cooperates with each other. The arrangement of the fastening structure is not limited to that shown in FIG2B .

Referring to FIG. 1 , the second cover 130 includes a bottom surface 132 and a plurality of baffles 134. The area of the bottom surface 132 is larger than the area of the second opening 114. The bottom surface 132 corresponds to the second opening 114, as shown in FIG. 4D . The baffles 134 are connected to each other and stand upright on the periphery of the bottom surface 132. The second cover 130 is configured to cover the second opening 114 (as shown in FIG. 4E-4F ) or to collect samples (as shown in FIG. 4G ).

FIG3 is a flow chart illustrating a method 300 for measuring adhesion according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG4A through FIG4I are schematic diagrams illustrating various steps of the method 300 for measuring adhesion according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The method for measuring adhesion of the present disclosure is used to assess the degree of sample adhesion remaining on a non-vertical surface (i.e., inner wall 118).

As shown in step 310 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4A , a container 110 (shown in FIG. 1 ) is provided. The inner wall 118 of the container 110 and the first cover 120 define a storage space S. The total weight of the container 110 and the first cover 120 is a first weight value A. It is understood that after the first opening 112 is sealed with the first cover 120, the total weight of the container 110 and the first cover 120 is measured using the weighing device 140, as shown in FIG. 4A .

As shown in step 320 of FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4B through FIG. 4C , after the first opening 112 is sealed with the first lid 120, the sample 410 is placed to fill the receiving space S. The second opening 114 is located above the first opening 112, and the total weight of the container 110, the first lid 120, and the sample 410 is a second weight value B. It will be appreciated that after the sample 410 fills the receiving space S, the total weight of the container 110, the first lid 120, and the sample 410 is measured using the weighing device 140, as shown in FIG. The sample 410 is in direct contact with the inner wall 118 of the container 110. In some embodiments, the sample 410 is a liquid or a mixture of a solid and a liquid, such as, but not limited to, mineral mud, mineral water, concrete, soil, yogurt, honey, or syrup.

As shown in step 330 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4D to FIG. 4F , after covering the second opening 114 with the second cover 130, the container 110, the first cover 120, and the sample 410 are turned upside down so that the first opening 112 is above the second opening 114. In some embodiments, the step of covering the second opening 114 with the second cover 130 further includes disposing a sealing strip 150 between the second opening 114 and the second cover 130. Specifically, the sealing strip 150 and the bottom surface 132 of the second cover 130 cover the second opening 114, thereby preventing the sample 410 from leaking out during the upside-down rotation. It will be appreciated that during step 330 , the sample 410 remains in direct contact with the inner wall 118 of the container 110 .

As shown in step 340 of Figure 3 and Figure 4G , after removing the first lid 120 (as shown in Figure 4F ), the container 110 and the second lid 130 are vertically separated and maintained for a period of time, and the second lid 130 is used to collect the main portion 412 of the sample 410 that has separated from the inner wall 118. Specifically, by moving (lifting) the container 110 filled with the sample 410 upward along the direction Z, a portion of the sample 410 falls and/or slides from the second opening 114 into the second lid 130 due to gravity. After the main portion 412 of the sample 410 separates from the second opening 114 and enters the second lid 130, the remaining portion 414 of the sample 410 adheres to the inner wall 118 of the container 110. In some embodiments, the above period of time (which may also be understood as separation time) is 30 seconds, but is not limited thereto.

As shown in step 350 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4H to FIG. 4I , after the first opening 112 is sealed with the first lid 120, the container 110, the first lid 120, and the remaining portion 414 of the sample 410 are turned upside down so that the second opening 114 is located above the first opening 112. The total weight of the container 110, the first lid 120, and the remaining portion 414 of the sample 410 is a third weight value C. It will be appreciated that the total weight of the container 110, the first lid 120, and the remaining portion 414 of the sample 410 is measured using the weighing device 140, as shown in FIG. 4I .

As shown in step 360 of FIG3 , the adhesion degree of the sample is calculated using the following formula (I): In some embodiments, when the difference between the third weight value C and the first weight value A is zero (i.e., CA = 0), it indicates that there is no adhesion between the substance (i.e., sample 410) and the container inner wall 118. When the third weight value C is equal to the second weight value B, it indicates that the substance (i.e., sample 410) is completely adhered to the container inner wall 118.

The adhesion measurement method of the present invention is simple and can be used to measure the adhesion of highly fluid or viscous materials. The adhesion measurement method and its kit of the present invention can be applied to various industries, such as, but not limited to, cement, food, paint, and medical. Specifically, different industries may have different criteria for determining the severity of adhesion. For example, the cement industry may have a higher tolerance for adhesion than the medical industry.

The following experimental examples are used to illustrate the application of the present invention, but they are not used to limit the present invention. Anyone skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Experimental Example 1

Experimental Example 1 measured the adhesion between sludge and the surface material of the agitator dryer to evaluate and select the surface material for drying sludge. Because wastewater contains suspended matter, flocculants are typically added during wastewater treatment to coagulate and settle the suspended matter. However, the addition of flocculants can cause varying degrees of sludge adhesion, resulting in sludge adhering to the inner walls and heating paddles of the agitator dryer, reducing drying efficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate and select the surface material of the agitator dryer used for drying sludge to predict its drying performance.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4A to 4I , a container 110 of agitator dryer surface material is first provided, with a first lid 120 sealing a first opening 112. The total weight of the container 110 and the first lid 120 (i.e., first weight value A) is 355 g. Then, a sample 410 (in Example 1, mineral mud) is placed in the storage space S, with the second opening 114 positioned above the first opening 112. The total weight of the container 110, the first lid 120, and the sample 410 (i.e., second weight value B) is 1789 g. Next, after covering the second opening 114 with the second lid 130, the container 110, the first lid 120, and the sample 410 are flipped upside down so that the first opening 112 is positioned above the second opening 114. After removing the first lid 120, the container 110 and second lid 130 were vertically separated and held for 30 seconds. The main portion 412 of the sample 410 that had separated from the inner wall 118 was collected using the second lid 130. After sealing the first opening 112 with the first lid 120, the container 110, first lid 120, and the remaining portion 414 of the sample 410 were flipped upside down so that the second opening 114 was above the first opening 112. The total weight of the container 110, first lid 120, and the remaining portion 414 of the sample 410 (i.e., the third weight value C) was 641 g. Finally, the adhesion of the sample was calculated according to formula (I) to be 19.9%. Please refer to Table 1 below for the weight values and adhesion values of Experimental Example 1.

Table 1

Experimental Example 2

Experimental Example 2 measured the adhesion of sludge water and the surface material of the sludge water settling tank to evaluate and select the surface material of the sludge water settling tank. Experimental Example 2 (sample sludge water) used the same method as Experimental Example 1 to measure adhesion. According to Equation (I), the adhesion of the sample was calculated to be 1.8%. The weight values and adhesion values for Experimental Example 1 are shown in Table 1.

In some embodiments, after obtaining the adhesion values, a comparative adhesion table can be created under identical operating conditions (e.g., identical separation time, identical container shape, and identical initial sample weight) to compare the adhesion levels between different samples (substances) and the inner walls of different containers. The adhesion measurement method of the present invention is used to assess the adhesion level between a substance and the inner wall of a container. Specifically, by measuring the adhesion level between a specific sample and a container made of a specific material, the sample's suitability for storage, transport, and/or processing in a specific container can be assessed.

In summary, the adhesion measurement method of the present invention uses the weight of the material remaining on the inner wall of a container after contact with the material (or sample) to assess the degree of adhesion between the material and the inner wall. This adhesion measurement can reduce material losses during storage, transportation, and/or handling, and improve material handling efficiency. The adhesion measurement kit of the present invention is used to perform the above-mentioned adhesion measurement method. The present invention's adhesion measurement method is simple and applicable to various industries.

The above summarizes the features of various embodiments so that those skilled in the art can better understand the scope of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this disclosure can be readily used as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures to perform the same purposes and/or achieve the same advantages of the embodiments described herein. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that such equivalent structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, and that various variations, substitutions, and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

100: Kit 110: Container 112: First opening 113: Fastening structure 114: Second opening 116: Side wall 118: Inner wall 120: First cover 130: Second cover 132: Bottom surface 134: Stop wall 140: Weighing device 150: Sealing strip 300: Method 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360: Steps 410: Sample 412: Main body 414: Remaining portion R: Groove S: Accommodation space X, Y, Z: Directions A-A': Line segment

The detailed description of this disclosure will be fully understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in accordance with standard industry practice, various features are not drawn to scale and are used for illustrative purposes only. In fact, the dimensions of various features may be arbitrarily increased or decreased for clarity of presentation. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a kit for measuring adhesion according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 2A is a partial cross-sectional view of the container of Figure 1 taken along line A-A'. Figure 2B is a partial cross-sectional view of the container and first cover in an embodiment of the present disclosure when combined. Figure 3 is a schematic flow diagram of a method for measuring adhesion according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figures 4A to 4I are schematic diagrams of various steps in a method for measuring adhesion according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Domestic Storage Information (Please enter in order by institution, date, and number) None International Storage Information (Please enter in order by country, institution, date, and number) None

100: Set

110:Container

112: First Opening

114: Second Opening

116: Sidewall

118: Inner wall

120: First cover

130: Second cover

132: Bottom surface

134: Blockade

140:Weighing equipment

150: Sealing strip

X, Y, Z: Direction

A-A’: Line segment

Claims (10)

A method for measuring adhesion, for evaluating the degree of adhesion of a sample remaining on a non-vertical surface, comprises: providing a container, wherein the container comprises: a first opening and a second opening disposed opposite each other, the first opening being smaller than the second opening; and a first cover configured to seal the first opening, wherein an inner wall of the container and the first cover define a receiving space, the inner wall being non-vertical relative to the first cover, and the total weight of the container and the first cover being a first weight value (A); after sealing the first opening with the first cover, filling the receiving space with the sample, wherein the second opening is located above the first opening, and the total weight of the container, the first cover, and the sample being a second weight value (B); After covering the second opening with a second lid, the container, the first lid, and the sample are flipped upside down so that the first opening is above the second opening; after removing the first lid, the container and the second lid are vertically separated and maintained for a period of time, and a main portion of the sample separated from the inner wall is collected by the second lid; after sealing the first opening with the first lid, the container, the first lid, and a remaining portion of the sample are flipped upside down so that the second opening is above the first opening, wherein the total weight of the container, the first lid, and the remaining portion of the sample is a third weight value (C); and the adhesion of the sample is calculated using the following formula: . The method for measuring adhesion as described in claim 1, wherein the periphery of the second opening includes a groove for accommodating a sealing strip. The method for measuring adhesion as described in claim 2, wherein the step of covering the second opening with the second cover further includes: disposing the sealing strip between the second opening and the second cover. The method for measuring adhesion as described in claim 1, wherein the second cover comprises: a bottom surface, wherein the area of the bottom surface is larger than the area of the second opening; and a plurality of baffles, wherein the baffles are connected to each other and are erected on the periphery of the bottom surface. The method for measuring adhesion as described in claim 1, wherein the container is a conical structure that tapers from the second opening toward the first opening. The method for measuring adhesion as described in claim 1, wherein the material of the container includes a high-temperature resistant material. The method for measuring adhesion as described in claim 1, wherein the first opening and the first cover include fastening structures that cooperate with each other. The method for measuring adhesion as described in claim 1, wherein the sample is a liquid or a mixture of a solid and a liquid. The method for measuring adhesion as described in claim 1, wherein the time period is 30 seconds. A kit for measuring adhesion, for performing the adhesion measuring method of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the kit comprises: a container comprising a first opening and a second opening disposed opposite each other, wherein the first opening is smaller than the second opening; a first cover corresponding to the first opening and configured to seal the first opening and accommodate a sample with the container; a second cover comprising: a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface has an area larger than the area of the second opening, the bottom surface corresponding to the second opening; and a plurality of baffles, wherein the baffles are connected to each other and disposed upright on the periphery of the bottom surface, the second cover being configured to cover the second opening or collect the sample; and a weighing device.