SUBSTANTIVELY REVIEWED BY PETER KLAREN · LAST REVIEWED SEPTEMBER 2026 · BASED ON THE WBSO GUIDE 2026
Representative case: this is a representative, anonymised case file based on common WBSO situations — not a literal client file.
Case in eleven phases
1. The company and starting situation
A coating producer applies functional layers in which the crystalline structure determines product properties. Apparently identical batches show varying crystal morphologies.
2. The research objective
Explain why the same formulation under apparently identical conditions produces different crystalline morphologies.
3. The unexplained technical phenomenon
One batch shows a coarse crystal morphology and another a fine morphology, without composition, temperature or processing history explaining the difference. A practical application of the knowledge was separate from this primary research objective.
4. Why existing knowledge was insufficient
Conventional nucleation theory predicts uniform behaviour for this binder-pigment combination. The literature and internal knowledge provide no explanation for the observed behaviour.
5. Research design
At the time of application, a concrete, systematic and planned research design had been established: controlled exposure experiments varying temperature, humidity and pigment loading. During the research, interim findings led to targeted follow-up experiments.
6. Experiments
Parallel crystallisation experiments, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) across multiple batches and conditions.
7. Technical result
The mechanism was explained: under a specific moisture condition, pigment particles catalyse heterogeneous nucleation, fully explaining the morphological differences and making them predictable.
8. What qualified as S&O
The systematically performed explanatory technical research that generated new theoretical and practical technical knowledge about the nucleation mechanism.
9. What did not qualify
Subsequent modification of the production formulation (product development), routine quality control and production.
10. Where the research ended
The research ended with the acquired insight and predictive model. Follow-up questions — such as translating the knowledge into a more robust formulation — would need to be assessed separately as a new development project.
11. Appropriate project records
Research design and hypotheses, measurement series, microscopy and diffraction results, interim findings and research notes with date and author.
How this translates into a WBSO application
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Research objective | explain varying crystal morphology in identical batches |
| Unexplained phenomenon | morphology difference without an 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 moisture condition |
Further reading: WBSO technical-scientific research · project records for research
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SOURCES AND SUBSTANTIVE REVIEW
RVO — WBSO Guide 2026
Reviewed by Peter Klaren, WBSO specialist since 2004. Last substantively updated: 21 September 2026. This case is representative, anonymised and not a literal client file.