Coating thickness measurement
A precise, fast and non-destructive method to measure and monitor the thickness of layers on material surfaces. Relevant, for example, in surface coating, electroplating, painting, corrosion protection or the manufacture of electronic components.
Application areas
It is used primarily in industries where the study of the microscopic structure of materials is important:
When coatings such as paints, powder coatings, electroplated coatings or anodized treatments are applied, coating thickness measurement ensures that the coatings meet the required specifications to provide corrosive protection, aesthetics, durability or electrical conductivity.
Here, coating thickness measurements are primarily used to ensure the quality and reliability of paint coatings on vehicle bodies, parts and components.
Precise measurement of paint thicknesses is important to ensure corrosion protection, color match and surface quality.
In the aerospace industry, precise coating thickness measurements are critical as they affect the safety, durability and performance of surface coatings on aircraft structures, engines, components and satellites.
Coating thickness measurement helps ensure corrosive protection, aerodynamic properties and structural integrity.
In the electronics and semiconductor industries, the process is used to inspect metallization layers, thin film coatings and layer systems on printed circuit boards, chips and electronic components.
Accurate measurement of coating thicknesses is important for electrical conductivity, insulation, resistance to corrosion and protection against electromagnetic interference.
Especially with regard to corrosion, coating thickness measurement is highly relevant in the construction industry. The application makes it possible to measure the thickness of anti-corrosion coatings on metal structures such as bridges, pipelines, tanks, steel structures and ship coatings.
The process is critical to ensuring effective protection against corrosion and long structural life.
Coating thickness measurement is a special method in materials testing that focuses on measuring and monitoring the thickness of coatings on material surfaces.
This process is particularly relevant in industries where coating thicknesses play a decisive role, such as surface coating, electroplating, painting, corrosion protection or in the manufacture of electronic components.
A particular advantage of coating thickness measurement is its non-destruction. This means that the surface of the workpiece remains undamaged during the test process. This is especially important when it comes to quality assurance of sensitive or expensive materials.
Various methods are used for coating thickness measurement; the choice of method depends on the type of coating and the specific requirements of the application. Here are some common methods of coating thickness measurement:
This process is based on the propagation of ultrasonic waves through the material. An ultrasonic probe head is placed on the surface and the travel time of the ultrasonic waves through the layer is measured. Based on this runtime, the thickness of the layer can be determined. This process is suitable for metal, plastic and composite layers.
In eddy current measurement, an electrical coil is placed near the layer, and a high-frequency alternating current is passed through the coil. The resulting eddy current generated in the layer depends on its thickness. By measuring the changes in the eddy current, the coating thickness can be determined. This process is suitable for conductive coatings on non-conductive substrates.
CNS has developed a special method to also measure conductive layers on conductive substrates
XRF uses X-rays to analyze the composition of a coating and simultaneously determine its thickness. The X-rays excite the atoms of the layer, and by measuring the characteristic X-rays, both the composition and the thickness of the layer can be determined. This process is suitable for metal and coating layers.
In this method, a magnetic coil is placed near the layer and an alternating current is passed through the coil. The magnetic field strength passing through the layer depends on its thickness. By measuring the changes in the magnetic field, the coating thickness can be determined. This process is suitable for conductive coatings on non-conductive substrates.
Microscopic techniques such as optical microscopy or atomic force microscopy can be used to measure the thickness of thin films or coatings. By capturing images and measuring the thickness of the layer at the microscopic level, the thickness of the layer can be determined.
All of these methods offer different approaches to coating thickness measurement and can be used depending on the specific requirements and materials of the coating. The choice of the appropriate method then depends on factors such as the type of coating, the accessibility of the surface, the precision and the required measurement accuracy.
Our products for coating thickness testing applications
In addition to software and data analysis tools, special coating thickness gauges are used. These include portable handheld or benchtop devices that provide non-contact or contact measurement. Coating thickness gauges use different physical principles such as ultrasound, eddy current, magnetic induction or X-ray fluorescence to provide precise measurement results. A software especially developed for coating thickness measurement is our QutET.delta.S:
QutET.delta.S
- Determination of the compound layer thickness of nitrocarburized crankshaft main bearings
- distinctive insertion of the components
- Measurement accuracy better than 1 μm
- Query test points and transfer the results directly to a list
- DMC readers
- Free creation of calibration curves
