Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for determining a drop size distribution within a spray and/or a homogeneity of this spray, the spray being formed on atomization of a coating material composition, which includes atomization of the coating material composition by means of an atomizer, the atomization producing a spray, optical capture of the drops of the spray formed, by a traversing optical measurement (2), and determination of at least one characteristic variable of the drop size distribution within the spray and/or of the homogeneity of the spray, on the basis of optical data obtained as per step (2). Also described herein are methods for compiling an electronic database and for screening coating material compositions when developing paint formulations, carried out on the basis of the method.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus includes a housing defining a channel, a plunger slidably engaged with an inner surface of the channel, a substrate with one or more passages each having two or more openings, a liquid in each of the one or more passages, at least one fluid, and a force application system. The substrate is disposed in the channel on one side of the plunger. The liquid in each of the one or more passages has a volume which exceeds an internal volume of each the one or more passages and forms a liquid drop around each of the openings. The liquid drops are fluidly connected to one another and each of the liquid drops is individually adjustable between two or more sizes. Each of the sizes and a location of each of the liquid drops define one of two or more switch positions. The fluid is located in the channel on the one side of the plunger and substantially surrounding the liquid drops.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus includes a housing defining a channel, a plunger slidably engaged with an inner surface of the channel, a substrate with one or more passages each having two or more openings, a liquid in each of the one or more passages, at least one fluid, and a force application system. The substrate is disposed in the channel on one side of the plunger. The liquid in each of the one or more passages has a volume which exceeds an internal volume of each the one or more passages and forms a liquid drop around each of the openings. The liquid drops are fluidly connected to one another and each of the liquid drops is individually adjustable between two or more sizes. Each of the sizes and a location of each of the liquid drops define one of two or more switch positions. The fluid is located in the channel on the one side of the plunger and substantially surrounding the liquid drops.

Abstract: A switching device includes a substrate with one or more passages and a force application system. Each of the passages has two or more openings, a force application system, and a liquid in the one or more passages in the substrate whose volume exceeds an internal volume of the one or more passages to form a liquid drop around each of the openings. The liquid drops are connected to one another by the liquid, each of the liquid drops is adjustable between two or more sizes and configurations, and each of the sizes and configurations of each of the liquid drops defines one of two or more switch positions. The force application system applies a force on the liquid to control switching between the two or more switch positions.