Paint dry film thickness measurement is addressed on SSPC-PA 2 and provides
information to how to average the readings and determine DFT acceptability. Let's start
with an example, you review the customer coating specification and see that
requirements for DFT 9-12 mil. The specification indicated 3 layers coat and each layer
with DFT (3 to 4 mil).
You are witnessing a dry film thickness measurement on final coat, and it is supposed
to be 9 to 12 mils. You are using a calibrated electronic gage and taking readings. You
are getting the numbers from 5 to the 15 mil in different places. So what is your final
DFT? should you reject a test point that its thickness is way below the minimum
amount?
The SSPC-PA 2 outlines a test procedure based on following definitions:
Gage Reading: It is the single reading, the point you place the instrument probe.
Spot Measurement: It is the average of 3 gage reading within a circle of 1.5 inch
Area Measurement: The average of 5 spots in each 100 square ft.
Expect to get different gage reading even if they are even too close to each other. This
happens because of the surface irregularities. Start with considering an area about 100
square ft and then select a spot, assume a circle with a diameter of 1.5 inch and take 3
gage readings.
As per SSPC-PA 2, a single reading does not matter and is not considered as
acceptance criteria. In above example, you can have a gage reading for 3 mil or 5 mil
and with these gage reading the paint is not going to be rejected. The standard also
goes higher than this and says, the unusual very low amount can be ignored from
recording and calculation.
Spot reading shall be within 80% to 120% of specified values. In above example, the
80% of 9 mil will be 7.2 mil and 120 % of 12 will be 14.4 mil. So the average of 3
readings (within a circle of 1.5 inch) should be within 7.2 thru 14.4.
You need to take 5 spots and each with 3 gage readings so that the total readings will
be 15 gage readings. After completion, you should average these 5 spots, and the
average should be within the acceptance criteria it means 9 thru 12 mils.
So actually you have two concessions here, first single gage reading does not matter,
even unusual very low gage reading can be eliminated from averaging. Second, you
have wider acceptance range for spot reading it mean 80% to 120%. However, your 5
spots average should be within specified range.
Let's continue with above example, you proceed with dry film thickness readings, and
you get following values:
Spot 1; 10, 15, 6.5 - Ave. 10.5 Ok., since within 7.2 to 14.4
Spot 2; 18, 12, 8 - Ave. 12.6 Ok., since within 7.2 to 14.4
Spot 3; 8, 9, 6 - Ave. 7.6 Ok., since within 7.2 to 14.4
Spot 4; 6, 8, 8 - Ave. 7.3 Ok., since within 7.2 to 14.4
Spot 5; 12, 14, 17 -Ave. 14.3 Ok., since within 7.2 to 14.4
The spots are Ok, now let calculate the average of these 5 spots which will represent
this 100 square ft.
Ave of 10.5, 12.6, 7.6, 7.3, and 14.3 is 10.46, and this value falls within 9 to 12 mil, so
the DFT in this 100 square ft is OK, it would have been rejected if it was less than 9 or
higher than 12 mil.
What should be done if it was less than 9 mil? Another coat should be applied to reach
the required DFT value, and measurement should be repeated.
What should be done if it was higher than 12? That depends on the coating
specification if permitted by coating specification, then should be subjected to the
sanding (by sand paper) to reduce paint DFT, if not indicated in the coating
specification, then the painting manufacturer should be consulted. Some paint
manufacturers do not advise the sanding and instruct re-blasting and repeating the
coating process.
Dry Film Thickness Instrument Calibration
The electronic gage should be calibrated by gage manufacturer, or authorized agent
and certificate of calibration should be traceable to the National Institute of Standard
Technology (NIST).
Dry Film Thickness Instrument Adjustment
The adjustment should be performed just before measurement and should be
performed as per manufacturer instruction. Normally is done through verification by
plastic shims. These shims come with the instrument. The shims are available in
different thickness. You should pick a shim which its thickness is most close to the
specified range in the specification.
