ASTM D6132-04

Standard Test Method for Nondestructive Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Applied Organic Coatings Using an Ultrasonic Gage

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Many coating properties are markedly affected by the film thickness of the dry film such as adhesion, flexibility, and hardness. To be able to compare results obtained by different operators, it is essential to measure film thickness carefully.
Most protective and high performance coatings are applied to meet a requirement or a specification for the dry-film thickness of each coat, or for the complete system, or both. Coatings must be applied within certain minimum and maximum thickness tolerances in order that they can fulfill their intended function. In addition to potential performance deficiencies, it is uneconomical to apply more material than necessary when coating large areas such as floors and walls.
Surface roughness can affect the accuracy of this test method. A rough surface has a tendency to scatter the ultrasonic pulse and odd readings may occur occasionally.
This test method may not be applicable to measure organic coating thickness on all substrates. The instrument’ability to detect a distinct interface between the coating and the substrate may be impeded if the coating and the substrate are of similar composition of if the coating is non-homogeneous. Verify operation on a known thickness of the coating/substrate combination if these circumstances are thought to exist.
Multilayered coatings have many interfaces and the instrument will measure to the interface separating the two most acoustically different materials. Some instruments have the ability to detect and measure the individual layer thicknesses in a multi-layer system.
The use of this test method is not necessarily limited by the type of substrate material as nondestructive magnetic-type or eddy current means.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the use of ultrasonic film thickness gages to measure accurately and nondestructively the dry film thickness of organic coatings applied over a substrate of dissimilar material. Measurements may be made on field structures, on commercially manufactured products, or on laboratory test specimens. These types of gages can accurately measure the dry film thickness of organic coatings on concrete, wood and wallboard substrates.
1.2 This test method is not applicable to coatings that will be readily deformable under load of the measuring instrument as the instrument probe is placed directly on the coating surface to take a reading.
1.3 The effective range of instruments using the principle of ultrasonics is limited by gage design. A thickness range of 0.3 to 600 mils (8 μm to 15 μmm) has been demonstrated.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2004
• ICS: 25.220.60 - Organic coatings
• ICS: 71.040.50 - Physicochemical methods of analysis
• Technical Committee: D01 - Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
• Drafting Committee: D01.23 - Physical Properties of Applied Paint Films

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D6132-97 - Standard Test Method for Nondestructive Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Applied Organic Coatings Over Concrete Using an Ultrasonic Gage
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Replaced By: ASTM D6132-08 - Standard Test Method for Nondestructive Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Applied Organic Coatings Using an Ultrasonic Gage
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2008
• Referred By: ASTM D5498-12a(2018) - Standard Guide for Developing a Training Program for Personnel Performing Coating and Lining Work Inspection for Nuclear Facilities
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM F3078-15 - Standard Test Method for Identification and Quantification of Lead in Paint and Similar Coating Materials using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (EDXRF)
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6237-19 - Standard Guide for Painting Inspectors (Concrete and Masonry Substrates)
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D3451-06(2017) - Standard Guide for Testing Coating Powders and Powder Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6943-15(2019) - Standard Practice for Immersion Testing of Industrial Protective Coatings and Linings
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM C722-18(2023) - Standard Specification for Chemical-Resistant Monolithic Floor Surfacings
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D5795-16 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Liquid Water Absorption of Coated Wood and Wood Based Products Via “Cobb Ring” Apparatus
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6944-15(2020) - Standard Practice for Determining the Resistance of Cured Coatings to Thermal Cycling
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D5702-18(2022) - Standard Practice for Field Sampling of Coating Films for Analysis for Heavy Metals
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D5590-17(2021) - Standard Test Method for Determining the Resistance of Paint Films and Related Coatings to Fungal Defacement by Accelerated Four-Week Agar Plate Assay
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D1006/D1006M-21 - Standard Practice for Conducting Exterior Exposure Tests of Hand and Factory Applied Paints on Wood and Wood Composite Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D5064-16a(2021) - Standard Practice for Conducting a Patch Test to Assess Coating Compatibility
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D7835/D7835M-19 - Standard Test Method for Determining the Solvent Resistance of an Organic Coating Using a Mechanical Rubbing Machine
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D6132–04
Standard Test Method for
Nondestructive Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of
1
Applied Organic Coatings Using an Ultrasonic Gage
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6132; 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* Determine the Precision of a Test Method
2.2 SSPC The Society for Protective Coatings Standard:
1.1 This test method covers the use of ultrasonic film
SSPC-PA2 Measurement of Dry Coating Thickness with
thicknessgagestomeasureaccuratelyandnondestructivelythe
3
Magnetic Gages
dry film thickness of organic coatings applied over a substrate
of dissimilar material. Measurements may be made on field
3. Summary of Test Method
structures, on commercially manufactured products, or on
3.1 Instruments complying with this test method measure
laboratory test specimens. These types of gages can accurately
thickness by emitting an ultrasonic pulse into the coating that
measure the dry film thickness of organic coatings on concrete,
is reflected back from the substrate to the probe. The travel
wood and wallboard substrates.
timeisconvertedintoathicknessreading.Theinstrumentmust
1.2 This test method is not applicable to coatings that will
be placed directly on the coating surface to take a reading.
be readily deformable under load of the measuring instrument
3.2 After verifying accuracy on a known coated part of the
astheinstrumentprobeisplaceddirectlyonthecoatingsurface
object or material of the same kind, the instrument probe is
to take a reading.
coupled with the coated specimen, after proper cure and
1.3 The effective range of instruments using the principle of
conditioning according to the coating manufacturer’s instruc-
ultrasonics is limited by gage design. A thickness range of 0.3
tions.
to 600 mils (8 µm to 15 mm) has been demonstrated.
3.3 It should be recognized that the accuracy of the mea-
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
surements can be influenced when:
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
3.3.1 The coated object to be measured is not planar with
only.
respect to the transducer face at the point of measurement,
1.5 This standard does not purport to address the safety
3.3.2 Thesurfaceroughnessofthecoatedspecimenexceeds
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
the coating thickness, and
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and
3.3.3 Coating density is not uniform.
health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
4. Significance and Use
2. Referenced Documents 4.1 Many coating properties are markedly affected by the
2 film thickness of the dry film such as adhesion, flexibility, and
2.1 ASTM Standards:
hardness. To be able to compare results obtained by different
D 823 Practices for Producing Films of Uniform Thickness
operators, it is essential to measure film thickness carefully.
of Paint, Varnish, and Related Products on Test Panels
4.2 Most protective and high performance coatings are
D 1005 Test Method for Measurement of Dry-Film Thick-
appliedtomeetarequirementoraspecificationforthedry-film
ness of Organic Coatings Using Micrometers
thickness of each coat, or for the complete system, or both.
D 4138 Test Method for Measurement of Dry Film Thick-
Coatings must be applied within certain minimum and maxi-
ness of Protective Coating Systems by Destructive Means
mum thickness tolerances in order that they can fulfill their
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
intended function. In addition to potential performance defi-
ciencies, it is uneconomical to apply more material than
necessary when coating large areas such as floors and walls.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint
4.3 Surface roughness can affect the accuracy of this test
and Related Coatings, Materials, andApplications and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D01.23 on Physical Properties of Applied Paint Films. method. A rough surface has a tendency to scatter the ultra-
Current edition approved June 1, 2004. Published June 2004. Originally
sonic pulse and odd readings may occur occasionally.
approved in 1997. Last previously edition approved in 1997 as D 6132 – 97.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings, 40 24th Street, 6th
the ASTM website. Fl
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