ASTM B659-90(2008)e1
(Guide)Standard Guide for Measuring Thickness of Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
Standard Guide for Measuring Thickness of Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Most coating specifications specify the thickness of the coating because coating thickness is often an important factor in the performance of the coating in service.
The methods included in this guide are suitable for acceptance testing and are to be found in ASTM standards.
Each method has its own limitations with respect to the kind of coating and its thickness.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the methods for measuring the thickness of many metallic and inorganic coatings including electrodeposited, mechanically deposited, vacuum deposited, anodic oxide, and chemical conversion coatings.
1.2 This guide is limited to tests considered in ASTM standards and does not cover certain tests that are employed for special applications.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: B659 − 90 (Reapproved2008)
Standard Guide for
Measuring Thickness of Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B659; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
´ NOTE—The units statement in subsection 1.3 was corrected editorially in April 2008.
1. Scope B530 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thicknesses
by the Magnetic Method: Electrodeposited Nickel Coat-
1.1 This guide covers the methods for measuring the thick-
ings on Magnetic and Nonmagnetic Substrates
ness of many metallic and inorganic coatings including
B567 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness
electrodeposited, mechanically deposited, vacuum deposited,
by the Beta Backscatter Method
anodic oxide, and chemical conversion coatings.
B568 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness
1.2 This guide is limited to tests considered in ASTM
by X-Ray Spectrometry
standardsanddoesnotcovercertainteststhatareemployedfor
B588 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Trans-
special applications.
parent or Opaque Coatings by Double-Beam Interference
Microscope Technique
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this B681 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness ofAnodic
CoatingsonAluminumandofOtherTransparentCoatings
standard.
on Opaque Surfaces Using the Light-Section Microscope
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
(Discontinued 2001) (Withdrawn 2001)
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
B767 Guide for Determining Mass Per Unit Area of Elec-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
trodeposited and Related Coatings by Gravimetric and
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Other Chemical Analysis Procedures
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2.2 ISO Standards:
2. Referenced Documents 1463 Metal and Oxide Coatings—Measurement of Thick-
ness by Microscopic Examination of Cross Sections
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2128 Surface Treatment of Metals—Anodization (Anodic
B244 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness ofAnodic
Oxidation) ofAluminum and ItsAlloys—Measurement of
Coatings on Aluminum and of Other Nonconductive
the Thickness of Oxide Coatings—Nondestructive Mea-
Coatings on Nonmagnetic Basis Metals with Eddy-
surement by Light Section Microscope
Current Instruments
2176 Petroleum Products Lubricating Grease Determination
B487 Test Method for Measurement of Metal and Oxide
of Dropping Point
Coating Thickness by Microscopical Examination of
2177 Metallic Coatings—Measurement of Coating
Cross Section
Thickness—Coulometric Method by Anodic Solution
B499 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thicknesses
2178 Non-Magnetic Metallic and Vitreous or Porcelain
by the Magnetic Method: Nonmagnetic Coatings on
EnamelCoatingsonMagneticBasisMetals,Measurement
Magnetic Basis Metals
of Coating Thickness, Magnetic Method
B504 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Metal-
2360 Non-Conductive Coatings on Non-Magnetic Basis
lic Coatings by the Coulometric Method
Metals—Measurement of Coating Thickness—Eddy Cur-
rent Method
2361 Electrodeposited Nickel Coatings on Magnetic and
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic and
Non-Magnetic Substrates—Measurement of Coating
Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.10 on Test
Methods.
Thickness—Magnetic Method
Current edition approved April 1, 2008. Published April 2008. Originally
approved in 1979. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as B659–90(2003). DOI:
10.1520/B0659-90R08E01.
2 3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM www.astm.org.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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B659 − 90 (2008)
3497 Metallic Coatings—Measurement of Coating or by the substrate followed by attenuation by the coating is
Thickness—X-Ray Spectrometric Methods measured.Theintensityofthesecondaryradiationisafunction
3543 Metallic and Non-Metallic Coatings—Measurement of of the coating thickness.
Thickness—Beta Backscatter Method 5.3.2 In multiple coatings the X-ray method is generally
applicable to the final metal coating.
3. Significance and Use
5.3.3 Suitable equipment is available commercially (Test
Method B568 and ISO 3497).
3.1 Most coating specifications specify the thickness of the
coating because coating thickness is often an important factor
5.4 Beta Backscatter Method:
in the performance of the coating in service.
5.4.1 The beta backscatter method employs radioisotopes
that emit beta radiation and a detector that measures the
3.2 The methods included in this guide are suitable for
intensity of the beta radiation backscattered by the test speci-
acceptance testing and are to be found in ASTM standards.
men. Part of the beta radiation entering the material collides
3.3 Each method has its own limitations with respect to the
with atoms of the material and is scattered back towards the
kind of coating and its thickness.
source. The intensity of the backscattered radiation is a
function, among others, of the coating thickness. A measure-
4. Reliability of Methods
ment is possible if the atomic number of the coating material is
4.1 All methods covered by this guide are sufficiently
sufficiently different from that of its substrate and if the beta
reliable to be used for acceptance testing of many electroplated
radiationisofsuitableenergyandintensity.Themethodcanbe
and other coatings. That is, each method is capable of yielding
used for measuring both thin and thick coatings, the maximum
measurements with an uncertainty of less than 10 % of the
thicknessbeingafunctionoftheatomicnumberofthecoating.
coating thickness over a significant range of coating thick-
In practice, high atomic number coatings, such as gold, can be
nesses when used by properly instructed personnel.
measured up to 50 µm, while low atomic number coatings,
such as copper or nickel, can be measured up to about 200 µm.
5. Nondestructive Methods
5.4.2 Coating thickness gages of this type are available
5.1 MagneticMethods—Thesemethodsemployinstruments
commercially (Test Method B567 and ISO 3543).
that measure the magnetic attraction between a magnet and the
coating or the substrate or both, or that measure the reluctance
6. Semidestructive Methods
of a magnetic flux path passing through the coating and the
6.1 Coulometric Method:
substrate. These methods, in practice, are limited to nonmag-
6.1.1 Coating th
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