Druppelpatroon

Druppelpatroon is a Dutch term used to describe the spatial arrangement or pattern of droplets produced by spraying, dripping, or deposition on a surface. The word combines druppel (drop) and patroon (pattern), and the concept is used across several technical fields to characterize how droplets are distributed.

In printing and coating, a druppelpatroon refers to how ink or coating droplets are laid down on a substrate. Patterns can be regular, such as grid or hexagonal arrangements, or irregular, depending on nozzle geometry, substrate wettability, fluid properties, and process parameters. The final pattern affects visual quality, color uniformity, and layer thickness. Factors such as viscosity, surface tension, evaporation, and contact-line pinning influence pattern formation, along with the roughness and chemistry of the surface.

In agriculture and horticulture, the term describes the distribution of spray or irrigation droplets on plants or soil. An even druppelpatroon improves coverage and uptake while reducing runoff, drift, and wastage. Uniform patterns may be hard to achieve in windy conditions or on complex plant canopies, necessitating adjustments in nozzle types, pressure, and sprayer geometry.

In research and quality control, druppelpatroon is analyzed to assess deposition quality. Measurements include droplet size distribution, density, and spatial statistics (such as regularity or clustering). Imaging and optical techniques are commonly used to quantify patterns and guide process optimization.

Overall, druppelpatroon is a descriptive, multidisciplinary concept used to evaluate and optimize how droplets are arranged on surfaces in both industrial and agricultural contexts.