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Dry Film Thickness
Dry film thickness, coating thickness or paint thickness as it is often known, is probably the most critical measurement in the coatings industry. It provides vital information as to the expected life of the substrate, the product’s fitness for purpose, its appearance and ensures compliance with a host of International Standards. In 1947, Elcometer launched one of the world’s first non-destructive coating thickness gauges, the Elcometer 101 Coating Thickness Gauge. For more than 6 decades, the design and production qualities of this rugged and reliable instrument have been the watchwords for all our products and these philosophies are still held today. Elcometer has a comprehensive range of Dry Film Thickness gauges to meet all of your coating inspection requirements.
Surface Profile
Surface profile: The degree of profile on the surface affects a coating’s overall performance and determines aspects such as adhesion, coverage and overall volume of coatings used. If the profile is too large the amount of coating required increases, otherwise there is a danger that the peaks remain uncoated - allowing rust spots to occur. If the profile is too small there may be an insufficient key for adequate adhesion.
Surface Roughness
Surface Roughness: these consist of a stylus attached to an arm which moves over the surface to record and measure the roughness over a specified distance, recording peak-to-valley average.
Climate, Dewpoint & Relative Humidity
Monitoring climatic conditions, such as temperature, relative humidity, dewpoint and moisture, is often vital to the successful application of a coating and are critical to the resulting quality and performance of the coated product.
Climatic Conditions: Elcometer offer a complete range of dewpoint and relative humidity meters, thermometers, dataloggers, moisture meters and anemometers to monitor climatic conditions.
Climatic Conditions: Elcometer offer a complete range of dewpoint and relative humidity meters, thermometers, dataloggers, moisture meters and anemometers to monitor climatic conditions.
Oven Temperature Profile
Temperature profiling provides an effective method for measuring the actual environmental and product temperature during the cure process - essential for ensuring quality finish and a successful cure of a powder coating. Not all components are alike, and are rarely of a uniform thickness, density or thermal capacity. This means that the oven temperature settings have to be adjusted to suit the coated product. Monitoring and making adjustments to the oven temperature ensures that the product is brought to and held at, the specified temperature to ensure consistent quality of cure and visual properties at all times.
Pinhole & Porosity
Premature corrosion of a substrate is usually due to a coating failure. A major cause is the presence of flaws in the finished coating. Collectively referred to as porosity, the main types of flaws are:
Runs & Sags: Coatings move under gravity leaving a thin dry film.
Cissing: When a coating does not re-flow to cover the voids generated by air bubbles being released from the surface of a coating.
Cratering: If the substrate is wet or the coating has poor flow characteristics, voids are created in the coating.
Pinholes: Caused by air entrapment which is then released from the surface, or by the entrapment of particulates (dust, sand etc.) which do not stay in place.
Over Coating: If too much coating is applied, as it cures internal stresses of the coating can cause it to crack.
Under Coating: Uncoated areas, or where the coating flows away from edges or corners of a substrate or welds. Insufficient coating over a rough surface profile may also leave the peaks of the profile exposed.
Runs & Sags: Coatings move under gravity leaving a thin dry film.
Cissing: When a coating does not re-flow to cover the voids generated by air bubbles being released from the surface of a coating.
Cratering: If the substrate is wet or the coating has poor flow characteristics, voids are created in the coating.
Pinholes: Caused by air entrapment which is then released from the surface, or by the entrapment of particulates (dust, sand etc.) which do not stay in place.
Over Coating: If too much coating is applied, as it cures internal stresses of the coating can cause it to crack.
Under Coating: Uncoated areas, or where the coating flows away from edges or corners of a substrate or welds. Insufficient coating over a rough surface profile may also leave the peaks of the profile exposed.
Surface Cleanliness
Surface cleanliness: Soluble salts & ion specific contamination (sulphates, chlorides, nitrates etc.) which are often invisible to the eye, together with amine blush (for amine cured epoxy coatings) can result in premature coating failure, resulting in high re-coating and maintenance costs. Elcometer has a range of test equipment for assessing surface cleanliness prior to applying a coating.
Wet Film & Powder Thickness
When applying a liquid coating, by measuring the uncured film thickness, it is possible to determine the eventual dry film thickness. Applying too much coating wastes time and materials. It can also affect the performance and finish of the product. Too much wet film can cause the coating to crack as it cures; too little coating increases the risk that the substrate will not be sufficiently protected, leading to rust spots.
Adhesion Testers
Adhesion testing after the coating process will quantify the strength of the bond between substrate and coating, or between different coating layers or the cohesive strength of some substrates. Routine adhesion tests are used as part of inspection and maintenance procedures to help detect potential coating failures.
Inspection Accessories
A range of accessories to support inspection processes, including calibration foils, probes, and protective cases to ensure reliable and efficient inspections.
Moisture Measurement
Moisture: The presence of moisture within a material will result in poor adhesion, premature coating failure and poor appearance. For example, applying a powder coating to a damp wooden panel will cause steam to be created when the panel passes through the curing oven, thus causing damage to the coating.
Inspection Kits
Pre-assembled kits that contain all the necessary instruments for coating and surface inspections, ideal for on-site assessments.
Abrasive & Blast Inspection
Blasting parameters: A number of important parameters need to be monitored during the blasting or water jetting process, these include: air pressure (at the nozzle), nozzle diameter, blast media contamination & pH values in order to avoid recontamination of the substrate during blasting.
Surface Condition
Surface Condition: degree or percentage of rust, level of mill scale, etc., can be visibly assessed using Pictorial Surface Standards. Weld beads can be assessed using a weld comparator and weld gauges.
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