WBSO CASE · TECHNICAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Research into crystallisation behaviour in a coating process

Varying crystal forms with seemingly identical batches. This case shows what an unexplained technical phenomenon is, how the research was systematically set up and where research ends and product development begins.

Onderzoek naar kristallisatiegedrag in een coatingproces

SUBSTANTIVELY ASSESSED BY PETER KLAREN · LAST CHECKED SEPTEMBER 2026 · BASED ON WBSO GUIDE 2026

Representatieve case: this file has been compiled on the basis of common WBSO situations and anonymised; it is not a literal representation of one client file.

Case in eleven phases

The company and starting situationA coating producer applies functional layers in which the crystalline structure determines the product properties. Seemingly identical batches show varying crystal forms.

The research goalExplaining why the same formulation under seemingly identical conditions yields different crystalline morphologies.

The unexplained technical phenomenonOne batch shows a coarse, the other a fine crystal form, without composition, temperature or processing history explaining the difference. A practical application of the knowledge was separate from this primary research goal.

Why existing knowledge fell shortThe prevailing nucleation theory predicts precisely uniform behaviour for this binder-pigment combination. Literature and internal knowledge offer no explanation for the observed behaviour.

Research designAt the time of application, a concrete, systematic and planned research design had been established: controlled exposure experiments with variation of temperature, humidity and pigment loading. During the research, interim findings led to targeted follow-up experiments.

ExperimentsParallel crystallisation experiments, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron microscopy (SEM) across multiple batches and conditions.

Technical resultThe mechanism has been explained: under a specific humidity condition, pigment particles catalyse heterogeneous nucleation, which fully explains the morphology differences and makes them predictable.

What qualified as R&DThe systematically executed, explanatory technical research that yielded new theoretical and practical technical knowledge about the nucleation mechanism.

What did not qualifyThe subsequent adjustment of the production recipe (product development), routine quality control and production.

Where the research endedThe research ended with the insight obtained and the predictive model. Follow-up questions — such as converting the knowledge into a more robust formulation — would have to be assessed separately as a new development project.

Which project records belonged to itResearch design and hypotheses, measurement series, microscopy and diffraction results, interim findings and research notes with date and maker.

How this translates to a WBSO application

Element	Content
Research goal	explaining the varying crystal form with identical batches
Unexplained phenomenon	morphology difference without explanation in literature or internal knowledge
Research design	controlled experiments with DSC, XRD and SEM across conditions and batches
New knowledge	heterogeneous nucleation catalysed by pigment under a specific humidity condition

Verdieping: WBSO technical scientific research · project records for research

Does your project resemble this case?

Present your technical bottleneck or research question. We compare your situation with the WBSO criteria and give a first substantive assessment.

Discuss my project More examples

SOURCES AND SUBSTANTIVE REVIEW

RVO — WBSO Guide 2026

Reviewed by Peter Klaren, WBSO specialist since 2004. Last substantively updated: 21 September 2026. This case has been compiled and anonymised.