DIN 53203

Introducing DIN 53203 – Industrial Physics

DIN 53203 is a national testing standard that helps you to estimate the coarseness (respectively fineness) of a dispersion using a grindometer. 

DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.), a German standardization body, has developed the use, rules, guidelines and characteristics of around 30,000 standards. 

The DIN 53203 testing process 

DIN 53203 fineness of grind testing involves evaluating the granularity of the dispersion using the grindometer as the basis for measurements. The test sample is smoothed out with a scraper in a groove with a depth which steadily decreases from 25μm to 0 μm (Grindometer acc. to Hegmann).  

The grindometer scale provides the relevant value under which a larger amount of pigment grains become visible through specks or scratches on the surface of the printing ink level. 

If you make coatings and inks, or simply test them during a production process, then fineness of grind testing is essential. It’s a simple yet effective way to measure the uniformity of pigment particles they contain. 

Why is fineness of grind testing important?  

Before your pigments are mixed into a liquid form for dispersion, they’ll typically need to be ground or milled into fine particles. You’ll need to know the physical properties of the particles, and the point at which their size exceeds the thickness of the film itself when painted, spread, or sprayed. 

Fineness of grind testing is vital to enable you to create reliable and repeatable wet films and apply them with repeatable consistency. 

Our DIN 53203 fineness testing products

So, how can Industrial Physics improve your DIN 53203 fineness of grind testing? 

TQC Sheen Grindometers 

TQC Sheen Grindometers are precision instruments used to determine the particle size and fineness of many materials, such as paints, lacquers, pigments, fillers, and food. 

Manufactured by TQC Sheen, our paint testing specialist brand, they’re also known as fineness of grind gauges and they’re ideal for determining particle and grind sizes. They’re also relied upon for all kinds of paint testing, smoothness testing, pigment testing and sample testing. 

TQC Sheen Automated Fineness Of Grind Gauge Scanner
The state-of-the-art TIDAS system objectively rates the particle dispersion in materials such as paints, lacquers, pigments, filler and chocolate. It differentiates between air bubbles and true particles and the rating can be customized to the requirements of each customer. 

Need the finest fineness testing? Get in touch!

We’ve learnt a thing or two about fineness of grind measurement over the decades. We like to share our knowledge and we’re here to help you to answer your questions about all aspects of paint testing. Across the knowledgebase section of our website we publish lots of blogs on related subjects.  

You could start with this blog – how additives improve and impact paints and coatings. Then you could follow-up with this piece which delves into how to perform a pigment test. 

If you have any questions about DIN 53203 and how we can help you with your fineness of grind testing, then just get in touch!

Contact us – Industrial Physics 

Your global test and measurement partner for DIN 53203