In-depth cooperation agreement between the European Center for Dispersion Technologies and LUM

The EZD in Selb, a facility of the Kunststoff-Zentrum SKZ, is an interdisciplinary research and innovation center focusing on production and characterization of dispersions (such as adhesives, resins, inks, coatings, elastomers). In addition, training courses and courses on various topics relating to dispersing are offered at the EZD.

LUM GmbH is a leading international provider of innovative measurement technology for particle characterization in the nano and micro range, for dispersion analysis and for materials testing.

The agreement between both parties aims to:

1. bundle know-how of both companies in the field of characterization of particles, suspensions and coatings.
2. support each other in organizing events, particularly with regard to expanding the areas of the seminars fields by combining both providers.
3. combine public relations work on topics relating to the cooperation agreement.

The topics of the cooperation agreement include, among others, annual meetings to allow for regularly exchanging of experiences. The meetings essentially are targeted on deepening knowledge and skills as to the use of LUM analysis technology for research and development work, and for customer service of the EZD. Furthermore, EZD will provide LUM with information about interesting application developments on the market and potential options for improving the performance of LUM measurement technology and will support realizations.

An important characteristic of LUM is the successful implementation of new customer requirements as well as new scientific findings in existing measuring devices. It is also reflected in the joint efforts of EZD and LUM within the framework of the cooperation in the Network NanoAnalytics and Measurement Technology in Production (NAMiP) launched in October in 2017 and the Network for Development of Materials and Technologies in the field of electromobility systems (NANO4eMob) founded this year. With the help of these networks, a central point of contact for industrial companies and scientific institutes will be established offering solutions in the field of measurement and analysis of nanostructured systems in the long-term.

It was also agreed that the partners would also support each other in the context of national and international standardization work. The EZD is actively involved in Working Group 2 (Sedimentation and Classification) headed by the Managing Director of LUM GmbH and Working Group 16 (Dispersibility) of ISO TC 24 / SC4 (Particle characterization including sieving). ISO TS 12072 "Dispersibility of solid particles into a liquid" is expected to be published in 2021 and the revisions of the series of standards "Determination of particle size distribution by gravitational (ISO 13317) or by centrifugal (ISO 13318) liquid sedimentation methods" started in 2019/2020.