Kraspunten

Kraspunten is a term used in Dutch-language quality control to denote discrete scratches on a surface that are sufficiently visible under standard inspection conditions. Each kraspunt represents a localized loss of surface integrity, typically resulting from handling, brushing, or contact with abrasive materials. The concept is often used to quantify surface defects in coatings, plastics, and metal finishes.

The term kraspunten is formed from kras, meaning scratch, and punten, meaning points. In Dutch industry literature, kraspunten are counted and referenced by the density of points per unit area, such as points per square decimeter, to provide a comparable metric across samples and processes.

Measurement and interpretation of kraspunten rely on visual inspection under controlled lighting or optical microscopy. Thresholds for what constitutes a kraspunt vary by material and finish; often only scratches above a certain depth or width are counted. The resulting metric, kraspunt density, is used to compare manufacturing processes, suppliers, or to verify compliance with product specifications. Because the concept is descriptive rather than a fixed standard, methodologies can differ between industries and companies.

Standards and limitations: there is no universal international standard specifically for kraspunten, and what qualifies as a kraspunt may differ depending on material, coating, and intended use. In practice, kraspunten are often considered alongside broader surface quality metrics such as gloss loss, haze, or general defect density, and may be integrated into image-based defect analysis workflows.

Applications: kraspunten counts are used in automotive coatings, consumer electronics enclosures, packaging films, and other coated or molded surfaces to monitor quality, guide process improvements, and define acceptance criteria. Tracking kraspunten over time can help assess wear, aging, or the effectiveness of mitigations.

See also: scratch test, surface defect, defect density, coating quality.