Dörken uses Advanced Thermal Optics in non-contact coating thickness measurement

The coating thickness of an anti-corrosion solution plays an important role in the functional properties and fit dimensions of components. In order to be able to measure this directly during series production, measuring systems based on advanced thermal optics are used.

Zinc flake systems from Dörken are used for corrosion protection. The system usually consists of a base layer, the basecoat, and a top layer, the topcoat. The basecoat is primarily responsible for corrosion protection. The layer thickness of such a coating is a key quality feature. DIN EN ISO 10683 specifies the extent to which corrosion protection depends on the coating thickness, i.e. until red rust occurs in the salt spray test. To ensure corrosion protection, it is important that the coating thickness is measured during the coating process. Such a method must also be able to be used on highly curved surfaces of screws or springs and close to edges or in corners. Reliable, reproducible, simple, fast and non-destructive - this is what a coating thickness measurement should ideally look like.

However, contacting measurement methods are only possible with dry coatings. Due to these limitations, a measurement method based on advanced thermal optics was developed. A computer-controlled light source briefly heats a surface. The subsequent dynamic temperature curve is recorded without contact using high-speed infrared sensors. Specially developed algorithms then convert this curve into the coating thickness. With a calibration for the various coating materials, coaters can measure the coating thickness on the wet layer directly after application. This non-contact measurement technology achieves the necessary accuracy and repeatability to enable process control or component-specific process optimization.