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Film thickness gages are among the most essential instruments used in the coatings industry. The generally accepted ratio of dry film to wet film thickness of most coatings is: Dry Film = Wet Film x % Solids of Coating Errors in film thickness estimates result in a needless expenditure of time, material, and money. If a film is too thin, its hiding power and protective capabilities may be inadequate and time will be lost in recoating the surface. If a coating application results in a dry film being excessively thick, failures such as cracking, flaking, or excessive drying time may result. Also, there is the cost factor of applying too much coating. Wet Film In order to control the process variables when applying a coating to a surface, it is often desirable that measurements are made to determine thickness while the coating is still wet. Wet film measurement is done by devices based upon the shape of the surface area, and the expected range of thickness. In addition, wet film measurements are also very useful for coating systems where the dry film thickness can only be measured destructively. |
Dry Film Thickness Measuring coating thickness accurately maximizes quality and minimizes material costs. Dry film checking can be carried out non-destructively or destructively, for multi-layer applications. |