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Fluoride is a common additive in drinking water around the world, but careful monitoring its concentration for safety and effectiveness is important. There are several methods commonly used for quantification of fluorine in drinking water: Fluoride Ion Selective Electrode (F-ISE) and spectral analysis. These methods are both effective, but we will explore how spectral analysis may provide a more simple method for fluorine quantification, as well as its uses for monitoring the safety and quality of various water sources around the world.

Fluoride is a common additive in our drinking water supply. Spectral analysis uses colorimetric technology to identify fluoride compounds in water samples and quantifies them both rapidly and effectively. Image Source: Flickr user Steve A Johnson

Color coordination and style rely on more than just a complimentary pallet. Finding the right color match is a valuable part in developing aesthetic appeal, and consistency from batch to batch is an important factor in the quality of paint products. Image Source: Flickr user latteda

Our homeowner association (HOA) is considered both a blessing and a curse throughout our neighborhood. On one hand, it ensures that the house next door doesn’t become the dumping grounds for old fixer vehicles. But on the flip side, if our kids leave their bikes on the lawn for 15 minutes and the inspector drives by, we end up with a nasty letter in our mailbox. Despite my complaints, we’ve all driven by a house—that one with the burnt orange siding, neon green trim, and eggplant colored door—that makes one wonder what the owners were thinking. In those moments I am thankful that our HOA has guaranteed our street is lined with complementary colors in a more generalized pallet.

Regardless of my more conservative taste in color, I am still surprised how difficult choosing the right hues can be. Simply grabbing a color sample card off the shelf and throwing some paint up on the walls does not always guarantee the outcome you desire. Quality results rely on both color and gloss measurement of paint to ensure that what you see is what you get. These basic color measurement guidelines start at the beginning of paint development and production to ensure that final product results are consistent, accurate, and made to last.

Harsh conditions require constant repainting of Naval ships with older paint formulas. Image Credit: Flickr User Kevin Burkett (CC by 2.0)

Same ship, different day. Adjusting the boom controls, Ryan rises 20 feet in the air to where he left off yesterday and begins to spray. Join the Navy, they said. Above him the curve of the hull and the broad, flat deck seemingly miles above overhangs him, blocking out the morning sun. He sprays a broad line, then adjusts his boom controls, then sprays another broad line. See the world, they said. He pauses to jam his earplugs deeper into his ear canals, but the dull vibrations from the thousands of workers involved in overhauling the aircraft carrier still pulse through his skull, heavying his thoughts. He turns his head to look down the length of the hull at all the steel yet to be painted. This would take weeks. If not months. I should have been a Marine, thinks Ryan, as he adjusts his boom controls and sprays another broad line of the same, dull, haze grey.

U.S. Navy Buys Large Volumes of Polysiloxane Paint

The U.S. Navy currently maintains around 430 active and reserve duty ships, including ten aircraft carriers. Each aircraft carrier takes 200,000 gallons1 or more of haze grey paint to cover. That’s 2 million gallons of paint used on aircraft carriers alone, if only one coat were to be applied. But even though the Navy has begun using high-tech polymer paint applications2 made of polysiloxane that last many times as long as older silicon alkyd paints, each ship must still be repainted on a consistent basis. The same holds true for the other 420 ships in the fleet, and any and all new ships currently under construction. This means that if you’re selling paint to the Navy, you’re selling a lot of paint.

Concrete is a common material used in many building structures. New options in color choices are expanding design options and increasing the popularity of concrete among consumers. Image Source: Flickr user Joey Carino

Summer is my favorite time of year to explore the beautiful area in which I live. Portland, Oregon is known as a “weird” little city that boasts eccentric doughnut shops, a unicycle riding bagpipe player, as well as architecturally beautiful buildings, bridges, and of course the breathtaking views of rivers and mountains that adorn our cityscape. Often referred to as Bridgetown or Bridge City owing to the bridges crossing the Willamette and Columbia rivers, many visitors stop to admire the intricate shapes, colors, and designs of these structures that connect our downtown area together.

Concrete is a major building material used in our city since it can be formed into nearly any shape, size, or color. Structurally sound and easily sourced, this material is popular in the architectural design features found in Portland and many other cities around the country. New technology in concrete color pigments offers even more versatility in this material by creating a wider range of color options to improve building design elements and features.

New options in concrete color pigments add visual and aesthetic appeal to many building projects, both commercially and residentially, which in turn is creating an industry that is growing at a steady pace. From building facades to stamped concrete patios, new options in colors are making concrete the preferred choice among many consumers today. As manufacturers work to meet consumer demands for quality and color options, top production facilities rely on advanced spectral analysis for quality control. While pigment color measurement does present challenges when it comes to consistency and repeatability, choosing the right instrumentation can alleviate common problems associated with powdered pigment measurement and provide the most accurate data in color measurement.

New color options in concrete pigments are developing a larger market for commercial sales and consumers are flocking to the new products offered. Image Source: Flickr’ user Tim Seay

Offset ink analysis is essential for top quality products and performance in today’s high-speed production printing industry. Image Source: Flickr’ user Remy CARTERET

Today’s printing industry is booming and production rates are reaching record level speeds as offset printers race to match supply with demand. Much like the benefits of high-octane fuel in a fast little sports car, press operators rely on high-performance ink quality to reach top speeds and maintain customer satisfaction.

Instrumental analysis is an important element in laboratory ink production and necessary for predicting various performance outcomes. Variables such as high-level press speeds and the many variations in substrates used in today’s commercial labels and packaging all create challenges in offset ink performance. According to Ink World Magazine, “assessing printing characteristics is critical to determining how ink is likely to perform, and having standard equipment is essential. Without these instruments or procedures, an ink company would have a difficult time ensuring its products perform on press. In addition, an excellent ink laboratory can help when troubleshooting is required”1. Developing standards and procedures for ink specifications and quality starts with advanced instrumentation. Spectrophotometers offer a variety of analytical options to ensure accurate color matching and consistency. One small yet effective tool can accomplish a variety of tasks and is a must for any ink laboratory.

Analysis of ink concentration levels effects production quality and performance and is necessary for maintaining quality control. Image Source: Flickr’ user Remy CARTERET

In the world of paint, vibrant new shades are replacing neutrals. Image Source: Unsplash user William Felker

In the past decade, home design blogs have been a virtual sea of greys, whites, and blacks. But recently, something started changing. From pink walls to deep jewel-toned kitchen cabinetry, color is coming back to the world of home decoration.

If a quick scroll through Apartment Therapy doesn’t convince you, perhaps Sherwin Williams’s National Paint Week Color Psychology Study will. Released earlier this year, the study reveals that a full 58% of Americans “say that more vibrant colors should be used throughout the home rather than just neutral tones.”1 Not only can this move away from neutrals liven up your living space, it can actually affect how you feel. “Homeowners shouldn’t stress when trying new colors, and many will likely find it a worthwhile endeavor,” says Dr. Sally Augustin, a color psychology expert at Design with Science. “Vibrant colors can have positive psychological effects. Emerald greens can be energizing, seeing red can give us a boost of strength, and yellow can provide a sense of warmth.”

Of course, the process of picking a paint color is a little more complicated than that; after all, consumers want colors that look as good as they make them feel, and what looks good is constantly evolving. The paint color trends that were all the rage fifteen years ago now look tired and dull. Meanwhile, we may currently have little interest in the shades we’ll be clamoring for in five years. But there was a time when those taupe walls were the height of sophistication and there will probably be a time when we want nothing more than Pantone’s Color of the Year 2022 on our walls.

The evolution of paint color trends is driven by both organic and carefully planned processes. Image Source: Pexels user Pixabay

The determination of fatty acids through spectrophotometric analysis has many applications in foods, dietary supplements, lubricating products, and detergents and soaps. Image Source: Flickr user Sam-Cat

Chemistry was never my best subject, but the truth is that chemical compounds and scientific formulations are just a part of everyday life. Take, for example, the importance of fatty acids. These little chemical compounds are bound together in groups of threes to form a variety of oils and products that we use regularly. These trios of derived chemicals make up many of the fatty acids we depend on for a healthy eating, lubricating needs, and many of the soaps and detergents we use daily.

Humans and animals alike require fatty acids, such as Omega -3s, as part of a healthy diet. Spectrophotometric determination of components such as these are needed for proper derivation, processing, and storage. Other fatty acids that are derived from both animal and plant-based sources also require the determination of acid value before meeting the quality standards needed for industrial use. Spectrophotometric technology offers a safe and easy alternative method of analysis for the determination of fatty acid in products, without the use of harsh chemicals and solvents. Using color technology the determination of fatty acids can be conducted safely, rapidly, and effectively.