Citation
Bean, J. (2002), "Thickness measurement of uncured powder coatings", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 31 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2002.12931eaa.002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
Thickness measurement of uncured powder coatings
Thickness measurement of uncured powder coatings
Another recent development in powder coatings is the thickness gauge that will measure uncured powder thickness, thus giving significant savings on powder usage. Several have come out in the past eighteen months, one of the first being from Sheen Instruments. Elcometer Instruments Ltd is now offering a non-contact powder coating thickness gauge, the Elcometer 550, using a novel, patented, ultrasonic measurement principle. It is calibrated to measure uncured polyester and mixed powder coatings applied to a range of smooth substrate materials such as aluminium and steel.
Weighing only 1.6 kg, the Elcometer 550 is both hand-held and fully portable. With its pistol-style probe it is said to be very easy and convenient to use. Powered by and interchangeable rechargeable battery and sealed against dust ingress, the gauge is designed to be used on the powder coating line immediately next to the spray booth. A fully charged battery pack has capacity for over 300 measurements and it is charged externally to the gauge to maximize the time that the gauge can be in use.
The Elcometer 550 has a measurement range of 30–110 microns and a display resolution of 1 micron over this range of thickness. The accuracy of measurement is claimed to be ±5 microns determined by comparison using traditional coating thickness gauges on the cured coating. The probe is held 17 mm off the surface to be measured and has distance and energy indicators on the probe handle to aid the operator to align the probe with the surface to be measured. The operator initiates the measurement sequence and when the probe is correctly aligned the measurement count starts automatically until the user stops the sequence.