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Technical Q&A

How do Dyne pens measure part cleanliness?

The short answer

Short answer: Dyne pens measure surface energy, which tells you whether oily soils are still on the part after cleaning. Clean metal has high surface energy. Oil and soil lower it.

How to read the result

  • Smooth line: The ink stays in a continuous line. The surface passes at that dyne level.
  • Beading: The ink pulls into droplets. Oily soils are still on the surface.

What score to look for

A Dyne score between 38 and 42 is typically the acceptable range for paint and powder coating. Scores above 44 are a robust indicator of a clean surface.

Run trials to find the dyne number that gives you good adhesion on your parts, with your soils and your coating. Then use that number as your daily check.

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Related Questions

Why does phosphate pretreatment create compliance headaches?

Phosphate pretreatment creates compliance work in four places: phosphorus in the wastewater, regulated metals like zinc and nickel, sludge that has to be characterized and hauled, and the water used by multistage rinses. The cost is spread across water bills, waste hauling, permits and staff time.

Why do parts flash rust between stages, and how do I stop it?

Flash rust is rapid oxidation that forms on bare steel when iron, oxygen and water meet, sometimes within minutes. It usually comes from one of five causes: parts drying mid-process, high washer temperatures, water impurities, acidic pH or uneven chemical coverage. Start by checking whether parts dry between stages, then look at water, pH and spray pattern.

How does zirconium prevent sludge in the bath?

Phosphate baths form crystals that drop insoluble solids, which build up as sludge on tank floors, heating elements and nozzles. Zirconium pretreatment forms a thin nanoceramic oxide layer on the part and produces no heavy sludge. That means fewer boil-outs, less nozzle scale and lower waste hauling costs.
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