scope:

This document specifies a method for non-destructive measurements of the thickness of non-conductive coatings on non-magnetic electrically conductive base metals, using amplitude-sensitive eddy-current instruments.

In this document, the term "coating" is used for materials such as, for example, paints and varnishes, electroplated coatings, enamel coatings, plastic coatings, claddings and powder coatings. This method is particularly applicable to measurements of the thickness of most oxide coatings produced by anodizing, but is not applicable to all conversion coatings, some of which are too thin to be measured by this method (see Clause 6).

This method can also be used to measure non-magnetic metallic coatings on non-conductive base materials. However, the phase-sensitive eddy-current method specified in ISO 21968 is particularly usable to this application and can provide thickness results with a higher accuracy (see Annex A).

This method is not applicable to measure non-magnetic metallic coatings on conductive base metals. The phase-sensitive eddy-current method specified in ISO 21968 is particularly useful for this application. However, in the special case of very thin coatings with a very small conductivity, the amplitude-sensitive eddy-current method can also be used for this application (see Annex A).

Although the method can be used for measurements of the thickness of coatings on magnetic base metals, its use for this application is not recommended. In such cases, the magnetic method specified in ISO 2178 can be used. Only in case of very thick coatings above approximately 1 mm, the amplitudesensitive eddy-current method can also be used for this application (see Annex A).