With paint coatings no longer beingsimply a way to make things look good and a way to protect surfaces, theimportance of choosing the right paint thickness has risen. Often underrated,paint thickness is a prime factor that affects the performance of the paint.While a paint layer that is too thin would get damaged easily or fail toprotect the surface properly, an excessively thick layer, on the other hand,would tend to be uneven and crack!
The thickness of a paint layer can bemeasured using a paint thickness gauge. However, multiple typesof thickness meters function differently and are used for different purposes.Some of the factors that would affect the type of thickness gauge necessary forthe job are:
Nature of the paint and the substrate
Particularly, different types ofprobes and gauges may be necessary for different paint or substrate types.
· The physical state of thecoating, whether it is liquid or dry
· The material of thecoating and the base material
· The roughness of thecoating
· The location of the areawhere the measurement would be taking place
Accuracy
The accuracy of the measurement mayvary from one gauge to another. However, industries have their ownspecifications. Knowing this specification for the particular purpose where thegauge would be used might be helpful in choosing the right technology. Theaccuracy may also differ from one material to another.
Reliability
Like any other industrial testingdevice, reliability and repeatability are important factors. It can be testedby gauging the thickness of a coating and then repeating the exact process. Thegraphs of the two tests are then overlaid, and the repeatability is checked.
Durability
In certain industries, equipment isexposed to dust and high temperatures. It is necessary to consider if a certainpaint thickness gauge would be able to withstand those, along with potentiallyrough use by less-trained operators.
Hazards
Most of the paint thickness meters donot come with any environmental hazards. However, while going for gauges thatuse nuclear or X-ray technologies, it is necessary to pay close attention tothe hazards and obtain necessary clearances from the relevant authorities.
Going through these factors would help one findthe correct paint thickness gauge for the job!
