The test can be used to assess the effectiveness of finishing procedures to make fabrics water-repellent and to assess the ability to absorb and resist water penetration.
At our Textile Laboratory we can offer testing of water repellency properties by Bundesmann.

The method is applicable to use for garments and materials with water repellency or which are to be waterproof, for the purpose of analysing its ability to wet, absorb and let water through in rain.

The Bundesmann equipment consists of specimen holders in the form of circular cups with a rotating element that rubs the back of the fabric during the test. Artificial rain is produced to imitate rain in a natural environment. The water falls from a height of 150 cm for a defined time.
The samples are then evaluated in three steps.
1. Visual assessment of water repellency by comparing the appearance of the sample against reference photographs, scale 1-5, where 5 is best.
2. The amount of water absorbed. The specimen is weighed before and after the test and the amount of water absorbed in % is calculated.
3. The amount of penetrated water is measured and stated in ml.

Four test specimens are required for the test

A report in Swedish or English with the received results.

Normal delivery time is 5-10 working days. A more accurate delivery time is stated in the order confirmation which is sent after received order and test material.

SS-EN 29865

SS-EN ISO 6330

SS-EN ISO 15797

Plasma surface modification is an efficient and environmentally safe method for improvement of different materials surface properties. The surface of all solid materials can be modified. RISE uses the method for cleaning of surfaces, increased adhesion to paints, lacquers and adhesives, preparation of liquid-repellent and biocompatible surfaces.

This is a service within the test bed “Surface analysis and Surface design” at RISE

Advantages

Plasma surface modifications have several important advantages compared with traditional wet chemical methods. Only the uttermost part of the surface is treated/coated without affecting the bulk properties of the treated material and extremely small amounts of chemicals are required. This leads to reduced need for chemicals, reduced impact on environment, improved work environment and lowered production costs.

What is plasma?

Plasma is referred to the fourth state of matter, ionized gas. It consists of electrons, ions, free radicals, various neutral molecules and photons. Low temperature plasmas can be created in several ways, but the most common way is the creation of a glow discharge by electric breakdown of gases. A low temperature plasma process, also referred to as cold plasma or glow discharge plasma, is in general a vacuum process which utilizes interactions of reactive species created in a low temperature plasma with solid surfaces. The interactions have unique features for surface modification of solids. The plasma processes are sometimes classified into Plasma Treatment (or plasma activation) and Plasma Polymerization (or plasma film deposition), depending on what type of gas or vapor is used and whether the interactions end up with deposition of a thin film or not.

Depending on choice of process gas or monomer (precursor), plasma surface modifications have found several different functions and applications. Some examples:

• Cleaning of surfaces. Plasma cleaning means that organic contaminants are removed through a chemical reaction or physical ablation of hydrocarbons on treated surfaces. Chemically reactive process gases (e.g. oxygen or air) react with monolayers of hydrocarbons and form carbon dioxide and water vapor which are removed from the reactor via the vacuum exhaust. All solid surfaces can be cleaned in this way.

• Improved wetting and adhesion. using for instance oxygen, air or vinyl-, acrylic- or allyl-based monomers containing either carboxylic (COOH), amino (-NH₂) or hydroxyl (-OH) functionality. Proper choice of these functional groups allows them to react with both substrate and coating with formation of covalent bonds, which is important for adhesion since it is expected that covalent bonding produces more powerful and highly durable adhesion, for instance between the substrate and paints, lacquers and/or adhesives. Another example is plasma activation of the current collector in a battery cell for improved adhesion to the catode and anode, and modification of the separator for improved wettability of the electrolyte.

• Improved water- and oil repellent properties. Hydrophobic and oleophobic surfaces are obtained by plasma polymerization of organosilicon-, hydrocarbon-, fluorocarbon-based precursors. This results in silicone-, polyolefin- and Teflon-like coatings which can be deposited on any solid surface. If these coatings are combined with a suitable micro/nano surface structure, even superhydrophobic and superoleophobic surfaces can be obtained.

• Improved gas diffusion barrier coatings. Oxygen (O₂TR) and water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) through various polymeric packaging materials, films as well as containers, can be significantly reduced by plasma deposition of ultra-thin, glass-like SiO_x coatings (from a mixture of hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) (or similar organosilicons) and oxygen). Similar barrier improvements can also be achieved by deposition of hydrocarbon-rich coatings from acetylene or methane/helium mixtures.

• Improved corrosion protection. Corrosion-resistant coatings can be obtained on metal substrates by plasma deposition of hydrophobic coatings (e.g. HMDSO) with a high degree of crosslinking.

• Improved biocompatibility. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), also known as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), is one of the most common surface coating in the biomedical materials field used to render a material resistant against protein fouling. PEG-like films have been developed through the use of plasma polymerization of monomers containing ethylene oxide units, typically glycol diethers, which are also commonly known as the ‘glyme’ family of monomers

At RISE we work closely with our customers in research projects or in direct assignments. We usually use plasma surface modifications to:

• clean surfaces
• functionalize surfaces, i.e. to introduce specific chemically functional groups for various applications
• Increase the adhesion and be able to paint, lacquer and/or glue materials which otherwise would have been impossible, and to enable the use of more types of waterborne adhesives and lacquers for a given substrate
• Prepare water- and oil-repellent surfaces, e.g. for preventing ice accretion or dirt pickup
• Apply gas diffusion barrier coatings on various packaging materials
• Activation of the current collectors in a battery cell for improved adhesion to the catode and anode
• Functionalization of the separator in a battery cell for improved wetting of the electrolyte

What we can do for you

We at RISE can help you to evaluate different types of plasma surface modifications for your own applications. Our plasma lab contains several different types of plasma reactors, both for treatment/coating in vacuum and at ambient pressure. Our laboratory resources are at your disposal and we perform treatments/coatings, testing, verification, research and development. In addition, we also have access to a large instrument park with several advanced surface analytical instruments to characterize the modified surfaces and confirm the surface modification has given the desired result. The customer will receive a written report upon completed work.

The P-mark is a certification for air filters intended for ventilation systems within the classification groups ISO ePM1, ISO ePM2.5 and ISO ePM10. The P-mark is RISE own quality label, which is found on many products and services, of which air filters are one.

The P-marking is a way of showing how requirements in Swedish building regulations and in voluntary requirements are fulfilled. P-marking of air filters is a voluntary commitment which means that the quality of the filters is controlled by an independent party, which contributes to increasing customers’ confidence in the product.

The P-marking is based on certification rule CR 055 ”Air filter for ventilation plants”. In order for an air filter to be P-marked, it must first be tested with regard to: initial pressure drop and filter class according to ISO 16890, energy consumption according to Eurovent 4/21 and long-term characteristics that are evaluated over three months with regard to degree of filtration efficiency.

In addition, the manufacturer is required to have a functioning quality system for its production. The manufacturer’s factory production control is monitored; an agreement is signed with RISE on continuous inspections and thereafter RISE performs external inspection every year at the production site, including sampling for test in accordance with ISO 16890.

If the requirements of the certification rule are fulfilled, a certificate may be issued and the filter could then be marked with the P-mark. Certificates can include a product group, also called a product family, and can thus include more articles than the one being tested. The certificate is valid for five years and can then be renewed for further five-year periods.

According to tender, normally within 6 months

Certification rule 055

ISO16890

SP-method 1937

In order to be able to label primary batteries with the Nordic Ecolabel, these must, among other things, meet the limit values ​​for the content of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg).

For rechargeable batteries (secondary batteries) there are also limit values ​​for arsenic (As).

The method is based on the "Battery Industry Standard Analytical Method. For the determination of Mercury, Cadmium and Lead in Alkaline Manganese Cells". The determination is made with ICP-MS.

The results are delivered in the form of a report.

At least four copies of each model/product must be analyzed and all four must meet the requirements. We wish to receive at least six copies of each product.

Mixers, valves and couplings intended for drinking water must, in accordance with national rules and general guidelines, meet the requirements for leachable lead content.

The analysis gives you as a customer information about whether the product meets the requirements.

Leaching takes place according to one of the NKB standards 4, 9, 12, 13 and 18. Then determination of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and if desired also nickel (Ni) with inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry ICP-OES in the leachate.

Results are delivered in the form of a report.

Normal delivery time is about 3 weeks. Leaching starts on Mondays and takes 10 days to complete. Then analyzes are performed on the leachate.

If analysis of nickel is desired, three copies of the product are required.

NKB 4, NKB 9, NKB 12, NKB 13, NKB 18

Jewelry can be made from a mixture of materials and may contain harmful substances such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd).

Both lead and cadmium are substances that are unhealthy and harmful to the environment. To ensure that jewelry does not contain these harmful substances, an analysis with an X-ray instrument (XRF) can be performed.

Each part of the jewelery is analyzed and thus the jewelery may be taken apart depending on how it looks.

XRF

Results are delivered in the form of a report.

About 10 working days

The test can be destructive depending on the size and shape of the product.