Comprehensive approach for coatings testing. 3) Testing the coatings on metals
For thickness control tasks we provide the Coating Thickness Gauge NOVOTEST TP-1. The thickness of coatings is one of the important parameters, that directly affects the product operational qualities. Yet It lets to control the paint consumption as well. Consider the number of replaceable probes, that this thickness gauge comes with. For different coatings and bases, different probes are used. The device can be used not only for measuring the thickness of coatings but also for measuring the temperature, dew point, humidity, and surface roughness evaluation using a special probe.
Next are the coating continuity testing devices. Porous defects, cracks in the coating of finished products indicate weakening of the coating protective properties. Affected locations are primarily corroded, which entails stopping the operation process and additional operational costs for such objects as storage tanks, pipelines, etc. To control the continuity of the coatings which are applied on electrically conductive base, electrical spark flaw detectors, or as they are called detectors of continuity are used . The method of testing consists in exposing on the test objects the high-frequency and high-voltage electric field and registering the short circuits at the affected locations. Such devices, as for example Pulse Holiday Detector NOVOTEST SPARK-1, allows test the coatings with thickness up to 12 mm!
Also for these tasks the electrolytic flaw detectors are used, as for example Pinhole Detector NOVOTEST ED-3D. These devices have lower cost, but they only can test coatings with thickness up to 500 microns. A wetted in an electrolyte sponge with low voltage electric current is applied upon the coating surface to find short circuits.
