CINCINNATI – Michelman has invested in new digital imaging technology that allows chemists to view coating and substrate samples at nano-level magnification. The new technology is part of Michelman’s investment in the Michelman Advanced Materials Collaboration Center that was officially opened on October 2, 2014, at the company’s global headquarters in Cincinnati.

The new state-of-the-art imaging technology, which is not widely available in the packaging coatings and specialty chemicals industries, allows Michelman to quickly and thoroughly analyze surface characteristics that are critical to development of successful coating systems for paper board, corrugated, flexible packaging, wood, metal, plastic, concrete and other industrial applications.

The information gathered includes high-resolution 3-D and topographical views using non-destructive sample preparation and roughness measurements. Multiple samples can be quickly recorded and compared using various analysis modes. The rich information and wealth of data are then used to troubleshoot, improve or develop coating technologies.

According to Robert Turnbull, Global Technology Manager, Printing & Packaging, “Our new digital imaging technology is allowing us to help customers troubleshoot problem formulations and bring effective new or reformulated products to market faster than ever before. Analysis that was previously impossible, or that took weeks to perform, can now be done in a fraction of the time compared to scanning electron microscopy or other high-resolution techniques.”