Heritage of Analytical & Scientific Instruments
The Japan Analytical Instruments Manufacturers’ Association (JAIMA) and the Japan Scientific Instruments Association (JSIA) launched the Analytical and Scientific Instrument Heritage Certification system in 2012 to promote the preservation of historical analytical and scientific instruments. Kyowa’s instruments were certified as “Analytical and Scientific Instrument Heritage” in 2012, 2013, and 2015.
▲ Kyowa Heritage Entrance Display at Niiza Headquarters
Precision Contact Angle Meter certified in 2012
Kyowa Kagaku Seiki (the predecessor of Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd.) released the first contact angle meter that used the tilting-plate method, which is the standard for “wettability” evaluation. It adopted the θ/2 method (the method for connecting the apex to the one three-phase point) in the sessile drop method, the mainstream measuring method, now, for the first time, to reduce personal errors.
In those days, the drop method took time, during which liquids would vaporize due to osmosis. It is easy to measure the changing wetness of evaporable liquids of surfactant solutions in the tilting-plate method. The method also has the advantage that pole-shaped samples can be measured. Furthermore, the tilting-plate mechanism was applied, and a dynamic contact angle measuring meter using the “roll-off method” (tilting stages to drop liquids) was developed.
The advanced technologies and the comfortable lives today are enabled by expanding contact angle measurement and controlling “wettability” (interface science).
Surface Tensiometer certified in 2013
This surface tensiometer was launched in 1971 as the world's first commercial surface tensiometer, adopting the Wilhelmy plate method at a time when the most common surface tensiometers used the du Noüy ring method.
The achievable resolutions with the du Noüy ring method were about 0.5 to 1 mN/m, whereas our Wilhelmy plate system, combined with our innovative lamp-scale, could achieve a precision of 0.1 mN/m. In addition, measurements of surface tension as a function of time and evaluations of dynamic processes of surfactant adsorption and the equilibration of surfactant solutions, which are not possible with the du Noüy ring method, became possible with our system, contributing considerably to the development of our country's chemical industry.
Bowden-type Friction-Abrasion Analyzer certified in 2015
In the 60s, the “Inclined method” prevailed over the mainstream of a friction meter until the “Inclined method” was replaced by the “Bowden type tester”. An inclined method is just to measure the angle as a weight on the surface of a subject starts to slide. This method is limited to obtaining a static friction value and serves only as a rough, simple device.
During this period of high economic growth in Japan, the demand of households such as camera, the automobile has increased so fast, so that manufacturers needed to have information of not only static but also dynamic friction value for the research and development to design such new products, then KYOWA released for their R & D needs a new friction meter accommodating the Bowden type mechanism by horizontally sliding a subject back and forth.
At an early stage of development, our engineers encountered unstable friction forces, particularly with heavier weights. These were due to a proper oscillation caused by the moment of inertia of the balance to which the sensor was affixed. By changing the mindset that we avoided setting weight on the top of the balance, we should place a weight underneath the balance using a horseshoe-shaped, rigid steel arm. This innovative modification enabled not only stable data but also the measurement of static and dynamic friction at the same position. By distinguishing between static and dynamic friction, the stick-slip phenomenon could be well measured and was therefore utilized in the research and development of tires, aircraft grease, a roll film winding mechanism, etc., contributing significantly to the development of new products at that time.
Forerunners, including the founder of our company, elaborated on creating the friction meter in the absence of an accurate sensor; they challenged themselves to invent a handmade strain gauge as a sensor. Again, we can confirm the founder, Mr. Tomoji Kamei's, firm intention to assign the title of the documents to be taken over by the current president, Mr. Shinichi Kamei, his son, as “Science of Friction”. This spirit now lives on in our new friction-abrasion meters, such as the TS-series.