Contents
Case Study

A fused silica and quartz R&D site put surface tension and surface energy on one portable kit, and had it working within weeks.

Last Updated
October 16, 2026
Industry
Fused silica and quartz
Company
Global, privately held materials group
Location
United States
Customer since
2023
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Drop shape method validated against a KRÜSS DSA100E in peer review Published accuracy of 0.35° in peer review Surface tension, contact angle and surface energy on one instrument

The US R&D site of a global fused silica and quartz maker ordered a Dropometer in spring 2023 for pendant drop surface tension and surface energy, with an automatic dispenser. About ten weeks after the order closed, in July 2023, the site's senior R&D engineer wrote that it seemed to work great. Surface energy and contact angle now run on the same unit as surface tension.

Product photo: a Droplet Lab Dropometer with automatic dropper. Not a photo of the client's lab.
Abhimanyu Photo
Written by
Abhimanyu Bhandankar
Holds an MBA from Schulich School of Business and a BE in IT. He joined Droplet Lab in July 2019 and now leads sales and marketing.
CEO at Droplet Lab
Read More
Gurdeep-Saini-Photo
Technical Review by
Gurdeep Singh Saini
Holds a BASc in Mechanical Engineering from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and an MASc from York University. He develops the automatic edge and baseline detection behind the Dropometer's analysis.
COO at Droplet Lab
Read More
Abhimanyu Photo
Written By

Abhimanyu Bhandankar

CEO at Droplet Lab

Holds an MBA from Schulich School of Business and a BE in IT. He joined Droplet Lab in July 2019 and now leads sales and marketing.

Gurdeep-Saini-Photo
Reviewed By

Gurdeep Singh Saini

COO at Droplet Lab

Holds a BASc in Mechanical Engineering from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and an MASc from York University. He develops the automatic edge and baseline detection behind the Dropometer's analysis.

Primary outcome: surface tension, contact angle and surface energy on one portable kit

Drop shape measurements available at the site

Pendant drop surface tension, contact angle and surface energy

Before the order (April 2023) 0 of 3 measurements
After delivery (2023) 3 of 3 measurements

First contact was logged on 5 April 2023 and the order closed on 1 May 2023. The instrument arrived with an automatic dispenser, and on 11 July 2023 the senior R&D engineer reported no issues. In September 2026, after a long gap in use, two apps stopped opening; a software update restored the account and the contact angle app on 25 September 2026. The client has not yet shared measurement results.

3 measurements

Pendant drop surface tension, contact angle and surface energy on one unit.

10 weeks

From the closed order to the engineer reporting no issues.

1 automatic dispenser

Consistent dosing for every drop.

1 update

Restored the account and contact angle app after a long gap in 2026.

Executive Summary

Who

The US R&D site of a global, privately held maker of fused silica and quartz for the semiconductor, optical fibre and optics markets. A senior R&D engineer bought and runs the instrument.

Problem

The site wanted pendant drop surface tension and surface energy without a large lab tensiometer, with automatic dosing for consistent drops. Use has been intermittent, so the instrument had to work again after long gaps.

Solution

A Dropometer configured for pendant drop surface tension, with the surface energy module and an automatic dispenser, plus the contact angle app that surface energy relies on.

Time to Value

5 April 2023: first contact. 1 May 2023: order closed. Spring 2023: delivered. 11 July 2023: no issues reported. 2 September 2026: apps closing on opening reported. 25 September 2026: account and contact angle app working after an update.

Results

The engineer reported no issues on 11 July 2023, about ten weeks after the order closed. In 2026, after a long gap, the surface tension and surface energy apps closed on opening; a software update restored the account and contact angle app. Measurement results have not yet been shared with us.

Highlights

3

Measurements on one unit

10 weeks

Order to no issues reported

3

Measurements on one unit: surface tension, contact angle, surface energy

2023

Customer since

The client, at a glance

Research focus

Fused silica and quartz materials.

Products / applications

Fused silica and quartz for semiconductor, optical fibre and optics markets.

Measurement stage

Research and development.

Users

One senior R&D engineer.

Materials and surfaces tested

Not yet shared.

Key constraints

Intermittent use, so the instrument must work again after long gaps.

The insight: surface tension first, with surface energy on the same instrument

What Was Deployed

A Dropometer contact angle and surface tension kit configured for pendant drop surface tension, with the surface energy module and an automatic dispenser for consistent dosing. Surface energy is calculated from contact angles of test liquids, so the contact angle app runs on the same unit. Unusually, the site bought surface tension before contact angle, rather than adding it later. Surface energy comes from the contact angles of two or more liquids with known surface tension reference values, fed into one of the surface free energy models. Our surface energy measurement guide covers the full workflow, and surface tension vs surface energy explains how the two quantities differ. The Dropometer supports the two liquid method described in SEMI/ASTM D7490-13. To keep results comparable between sessions, read our note on reproducible surface energy calculation, try Experiment 6: surface free energy with multiple liquids, or check your numbers with the surface free energy calculator. Weighing portable options? See Dropometer vs KRÜSS Mobile Surface Analyzer.
The Origin

From first contact to a closed order in under a month

The site first appears in our CRM on 5 April 2023. Its senior R&D engineer chose pendant drop surface tension and surface energy, with the automatic dispenser. The order closed on 1 May 2023, and the instrument was delivered to the site's R&D facility that spring. No onboarding call is on record; the next message from the site was its July 2023 report of no issues. Fused silica and quartz parts go into semiconductor and optics production, where clean surfaces matter. Our semiconductors guide and the glass cleaning verification use case show where wetting checks fit. For a published example of contact angle as a cleaning readout, see this client study on plasma cleaning of titanium surfaces, which used the Dropometer.
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Rollout timeline

Timeline (high level)

April to May 2023: Order and delivery

  • First contact logged on 5 April
  • Configuration noted on 27 April: surface tension, surface energy, automatic dispenser
  • Order closed on 1 May
  • Delivered to the R&D facility

July 2023: Running

No issues reported on 11 July

2024 to 2025: Intermittent use

  • Long gaps between sessions
  • User manual requested again in July 2025

September 2026: Apps restored

  • Surface tension and surface energy apps closing on opening, reported 2 September
  • Software update sent 23 September
  • Account and contact angle app working on 25 September

Proof and validation: what we can show so far

Test method

Not yet reported. The instrument is configured for pendant drop surface tension and surface energy from contact angles.

Sample size and operators

One senior R&D engineer. Sample counts not shared.

Repeatability / reproducibility

Not yet reported.

Notes / assumptions

This page covers the purchase, setup and support history only. The client has not shared measurement results with Droplet Lab, and none are shown here. Results will be added only with the client's approval.

Outcomes to date

Measured Outcomes

3

Measurements on one unit

Pendant drop surface tension, contact angle and surface energy, from none at the site before the order.

10 weeks

Order to no issues reported

The order closed on 1 May 2023; on 11 July 2023 the engineer reported no issues.

23 days

2026 app issue to working account

Reported 2 September 2026; account and contact angle app working on 25 September after a software update.

Operational Outcomes

Running within weeks

No issues reported by 11 July 2023, about ten weeks after the order closed.

Back after a gap

A software update brought the instrument back after a long gap in use.

Lesson for us

Customers who use the instrument rarely need a faster first reply and an update check before each session.

What's next

Delivered

Dropometer for pendant drop surface tension with surface energy module and automatic dispenser (2023)
Software update restoring the account and contact angle app (September 2026)

In Pilot

Confirming the surface tension and surface energy apps after the 2026 update

Planned

Measurement results, added to this page with the client's approval

Next Step

Need surface tension and surface energy on one portable kit?

The Dropometer measures pendant drop surface tension, contact angle and surface energy on one instrument, with an automatic dispenser for consistent drops. The drop shape method is validated against a KRÜSS DSA100E in peer review. Book a 15 minute demo with your own liquids and surfaces, or request a quote.

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