ASTM B659-90(2003)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Measuring Thickness of Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
Standard Guide for Measuring Thickness of Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
SCOPE
1.1 This guide outlines 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 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(Reapproved 2003)
Standard Guide for
Measuring Thickness of Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 659; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope B 681 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of An-
odic Coatings on Aluminum and of Other Transparent
1.1 This guide outlines the methods for measuring the
Coatings on Opaque Surfaces Using the Light-Section
thickness of many metallic and inorganic coatings including
Microscope
electrodeposited, mechanically deposited, vacuum deposited,
B 767 Guide for Determining Mass Per Unit Area of Elec-
anodic oxide and chemical conversion coatings.
trodeposited and Related Coatings by Gravimetric and
1.2 This guide is limited to tests considered in ASTM
Other Chemical Analysis Procedures
standardsanddoesnotcovercertainteststhatareemployedfor
2.2 ISO Standards:
special applications.
1463 Metal and Oxide Coatings—Measurement of Thick-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
ness by Microscopic Examination of Cross Sections
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
2128 Surface Treatment of Metals—Anodization (Anodic
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Oxidation) ofAluminum and ItsAlloys—Measurement of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
the Thickness of Oxide Coatings—Nondestructive Mea-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
surement by Light Section Microscope
2. Referenced Documents
2176 PetroleumProductsLubricatingGreaseDetermination
of Dropping Point
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2177 Metallic Coatings—Measurement of Coating
B 244 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of An-
Thickness—Coulometric Method by Anodic Solution
odic Coatings on Aluminum and of Other Nonconductive
2178 Non-Magnetic Metallic and Vitreous or Porcelain
Coatings on Nonmagnetic Basis Metals with Eddy-Current
EnamelCoatingsonMagneticBasisMetals,Measurement
Instruments
of Coating Thickness, Magnetic Method
B 487 Test Method for Measurement of Metal and Oxide
2360 Non-Conductive Coatings on Non-Magnetic Basis
Coating Thickness by Microscopical Examination of a
Metals—Measurement of Coating Thickness—Eddy Cur-
Cross Section
rent Method
B 499 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thick-
2361 Electrodeposited Nickel Coatings on Magnetic and
nessesbytheMagneticMethod:NonmagneticCoatingson
Non-Magnetic Substrates—Measurement of Coating
Magnetic Basis Metals
Thickness—Magnetic Method
B 504 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Me-
3497 Metallic Coatings—Measurement of Coating
tallic Coatings by the Coulometric Method
Thickness—X-Ray Spectrometric Methods
B 530 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thick-
3543 Metallic and Non-Metallic Coatings—Measurement
nesses by the Magnetic Method: Electrodeposited Nickel
of Thickness—Beta Backscatter Method
Coatings on Magnetic and Nonmagnetic Substrates
B 567 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness
3. Significance and Use
by the Beta Backscatter Method
3.1 Most coating specifications specify the thickness of the
B 568 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness
coating because coating thickness is often an important factor
by X-Ray Spectrometry
in the performance of the coating in service.
B 588 TestMethodforMeasurementofThicknessofTrans-
3.2 The methods included in this guide are suitable for
parent or Opaque Coatings by Double-Beam Interference
acceptance testing and are to be found in ASTM standards.
Microscope Technique
3.3 Each method has its own limitations with respect to the
kind of coating and its thickness.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic and
Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.10 on Test
Methods.
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 2003. Published May 2003. Originally Discontinued. See 2000 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.05.
approved in 1979. Last previous edition approved in 1997 as B 659 – 90 (1997). Available from American National Standards Institute, 25 W. 43rd St., 4th
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.05. Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
B659–90 (2003)
4. Reliability of Methods ment is possible if the atomic number of the coating material is
sufficiently different from that of its substrate and if the beta
4.1 All methods covered by this guide are sufficiently
radiation is of suitable energy and intensity.The method can be
reliable to be used for acceptance testing of many electroplated
used for measuring both thin and thick coatings, the maximum
and other coatings. That is, each method is capable of yielding
thickness being a function of the atomic number of the coating.
measurements with an uncertainty of less than 10 % of the
In practice, high atomic number coatings, such as gold, can be
coating thickness over a significant range of coating thick-
measured up to 50 µm, while low atomic number coatings,
nesses when used by properly instructed personnel.
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
commercially (Test Method B 567 and ISO 3543).
5.1 Magnetic Methods—These methods employ instru-
ments that measure the magnetic attraction between a magnet
6. Semidestructive Methods
and the coating or the substrate or both, or that measure the
reluctance of a magnetic flux path passing through the coating
6.1 Coulometric Method:
and the substrate. These methods, in practice, are limited to
6.1.1 Coating thickness may be determined by measuring
nonmagnetic coatings on carbon steel (Test Method B 499 and
the quantity of electricity consumed in dissolving the coating
ISO 2178) and to electrodeposited nickel coatings on carbon
fromanaccuratelydefinedareawhenthearticleismadeanodic
steel or on nonmagnetic substrates (Test Method B 530 and
in a suitable electrolyte under suitable conditions. The change
ISO 2361) and to nonmagnetic autocatalytically deposited
in potential occurring when the substrate is exposed indicates
nickel-phosphorus alloys on carbon steel (Test Method B 499
the end point of the dissolution. The method is applicable to
and ISO 2176). Coating thickness gages of this type are
many coating-substrate combinations (Test Method B 504 and
available commercially.
ISO 2177).
5.2 Eddy-CurrentMethod—This method employs an instru-
6.1.2 Coating thickness instruments employing this method
ment that generates a high-frequency current in a probe,
are
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