ISO/TS 14778:2021

Introducing ISO/TS 14778:2021 – Industrial Physics

ISO/TS 14778:2021 is the international technical specification for measuring the water contact angle of paper and paperboard using optical methods. This test evaluates how a droplet of water interacts with the surface of a sheet, providing a sensitive indicator of surface energy, wettability, coating performance, and liquid‑absorption behaviour.

Because contact‑angle behaviour directly influences printability, coating adhesion, barrier performance, and converting outcomes, this method is essential for mills, converters, and laboratories working with coated, uncoated, and specialty papers.

What ISO/TS 14778:2021 Covers

ISO/TS 14778:2021 defines a controlled procedure for optical assessment of the water contact angle on paper and board. Key elements include:

• Forming and dispensing a controlled water droplet
• Applying the droplet to a planar paper or board surface
• Capturing the droplet profile using automated optical equipment
• Calculating the contact angle from the droplet shape
• Conditioning samples under standard temperature and humidity
• Reporting results in degrees (°)

The method applies to:

• Coated and uncoated papers
• Packaging board
• Barrier‑coated and functional papers
• Specialty grades requiring controlled wettability
• R&D and formulation work involving surface treatments

ISO/TS 14778:2021 ensures consistent, repeatable measurement of surface wettability across laboratories and production environments.

Where ISO/TS 14778:2021 Is Used

This standard is widely used across the paper and packaging supply chain:

• Paper mills and coating operations
• Packaging‑board manufacturers
• Barrier‑coating developers
• Printing‑grade producers
• Quality‑control laboratories
• R&D and surface‑chemistry teams

It supports both routine production monitoring and advanced surface‑performance evaluation.

Why Contact‑Angle Testing Matters

Understanding water contact angle is essential for:

• Predicting ink and coating wetting behaviour
• Evaluating barrier performance (water, oil, grease)
• Assessing surface treatments, primers, and coatings
• Ensuring consistent adhesion and print quality
• Meeting industry and customer specifications

Contact‑angle measurement is a key surface‑science tool used alongside porosity, roughness, and surface‑energy analysis.

Testing solutions for ISO/TS 14778:2021

One product from the Industrial Physics portfolio aligns directly with ISO/TS 14778:2021’s focus on optical contact‑angle measurement:

PGX Pocket Goniometer

A compact, high‑precision instrument designed for fast, automated measurement of water contact angle on paper, board, films, and coated surfaces. Its optical droplet‑analysis system makes it ideal for ISO/TS 14778:2021 workflows, providing accurate, repeatable wettability data for QC, R&D, and production environments.

Your Global Test and Measurement Partner for ISO/TS 14778:2021

Industrial Physics supports paper manufacturers, converters, and laboratories with the tools and expertise needed to evaluate surface wettability in line with ISO/TS 14778:2021. From contact‑angle measurement to full optical and physical‑property analysis, we help ensure your materials meet demanding print, coating, and barrier‑performance standards.