Coatingdiktemeters

Coatingdiktemeters, or coating thickness gauges, are instruments used to measure the thickness of coatings applied to substrates. They are commonly employed in manufacturing, construction, and maintenance to verify compliance with specifications for protective, decorative, or functional coatings.

Most coating gauges operate on one of several principles. Magnetic induction gauges measure the distance between a magnetic coating layer and the substrate on ferrous materials. Eddy current gauges use electromagnetic fields to assess nonmagnetic coatings on conductive substrates. Ultrasonic gauges transmit a sound pulse through the coating and detect echoes from interfaces, enabling thickness determination on a wide range of materials. X-ray fluorescence gauges determine dry film thickness by analyzing characteristic X-rays emitted by the coating and substrate, typically used for metallic coatings and where elemental composition is important.

Calibration is essential. Users calibrate devices with reference standards or foils of known thickness and select the substrate type to account for substrate effect. Regular verification and surface condition checks help maintain accuracy, with typical tolerances ranging from a few micrometers to several tens of micrometers depending on method and coating type.

Applications include automotive and aerospace coatings, corrosion protection layers on ships and bridges, electronics conformal coatings, and architectural finishes. Limitations include surface roughness, coating stress, substrate permeability, and the need for different methods when coatings are uneven, multilayered, or nonmetallic.