Questions answered
- What are the optical properties of material A?
- Why does coating B vary in color or gloss?
- Why is material C so hazy?
- How do I measure differences between material D and material E?
- How does the material construction of material F contribute to its optical performance?
Optical modelling: performance analysis
In optical modelling, we take a closer look at the optical performances of a material or coating. An analysis screens the composition of a material and identifies reflectance, transmittance, absorbance, fluorescence and scattering, among others.
The chosen approach and methods depend on the research question and the characteristics of the material involved. They include spectrophotometry (250-2500 nm), imaging goniometry, surface profilometry, optical microscopy, electron-microscopy and appearance imaging (i.e. capture of materials under well-defined illumination and capture geometry and quantification by image analysis).
Choice of measurement geometry as well as spot size are often crucial to separate contributions on what we perceive as microscale and macroscale, depending on the viewing distance of the observer. In addition to the measurement of color tolerances in terms of CIE or other color metrics, the homogeneity of appearance as well as detail reproduction can be made the center of attention.
Optical properties analysis
Furthermore, simulations tools can be applied to analyze the optical properties of materials, the optical response of (a stack of) thin layers, the effect of optical interfaces or the presence of light scattering as a function of particle size.
AgfaLabs optical modelling applies to a wide range of materials including plastics, coatings and metals, bringing together your material knowledge and our experience in optical characterization and analysis. We also consult with method development for the custom characterization of your materials.
