Prototype Pilot Knife Coating Machine: An Economic Approach

Abstract

Coating on a textile substrate is one of the upcoming technologies to enhance the functional properties of fabrics. It plays a crucial role in various industries, enabling the production of high-quality and functional fabrics. Among the numerous coating techniques available, knife coating stands out as a versatile and widely adopted method. Knife-coating machines are bigger and required a huge amount of material to coat a fabric. This restricts their wider use in industries as well as in research institutions to carry out various trials for coating development, process optimization, quality control, research, and innovation. Available pilot coating machines also face limitations in terms of material utilization and cost as they are imported from other countries.

To overcome these challenges, an indigenous pilot knife coating machine has been developed that incorporates the required features and innovations at an optimal price. By harnessing cutting-edge technology, and considering important controlling parameters of the coating process, this machine aims to support the minimum material utilization, offers possibilities for varying various parameters, and achieving enhance coating performance. This paper presents the design and development of the pilot knife coating machine, highlighting its potential to revolutionize the coating industry.