Laboratory Testing

Laboratory Testing and Coating Analysis

With over 40 years of experience in coating formulation, application and testing, E/M Coating Services are at the forefront of coating analysis. We understand the need to be able to quantifiably evaluate and examine every part of the coating process, from development through to lifecycle analysis and as such, we offer a full range of testing services on-site, in our dedicated laboratory.

Our range of services are outlined below, but should you wish to discuss your requirements in more detail then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Corrosion and Weathering

The ability to be able to assess a coatings resistance to the environment before full scale installation can potentially yield huge costs savings and prevent early part failure. At E/M Coating Services we offer a range of corrosion and weathering tests, which expose a coating system to UV light, corrosive environments and extremes of temperature and humidity.

We offer:

Salt spray testing to ASTM B117
Cyclic Corrosion Testing to ISO 20340
UV testing/Light stability testing to D4587
Acidic environment testing to MIL STD 791
Temperature testing to ASTM D2511
Chemical Resistance to ASTM D2510

Surface finish and dry film thickness

Surface measurement is critical in the coating operation, both in determining that the correct blast profile has been achieved and that the correct thickness of coating has been applied.

We offer:

Blast profile measurements to ISO 8503-1 amongst others.
Dry Film Thickness (DFT) measurement according to ISO 2178 and ASTM D7091
Gloss Level to ASTM D523
Phosphate weight
Polished surface measurements using the Talysurf Intra. These provides measurement of the following:
- Surface roughness over gear teeth profiles
- Gear root measurement (even small gears)
- Leading edge and aero blade curved surfaces
- Sub micron super finished surfaces
- Step height, form and radius measurement
- Wear analysis
- Small bore and “O” ring groove measurement
- Straightness analysis

Tribology/Wear testing

Tribology is the science of interacting surfaces in relative motion. There are various way of quantifying tribological effects in the laboratory. At E/M Coatings we use the Falex Friction and wear test machine, which allows us to measure wear life, maximum loading and coefficient of friction to ASTM D2625.

However, we would recommend that any coating choice should be evaluated on actual trial components, as ‘real life’ wear characteristics may differ from those seen in laboratory tests.

Adhesion

For a coating to have its desired physical and mechanical properties, it is reliant on being correctly adhered to the substrate. At E/M coating Services we measure the coating adhesion in a number of different ways depending on the coating type.

Thin film/Dry Film Lubricant = Adhesion tests to ASTM D2510 or ASTM D 3359

Subsea Paint systems = Pull Off testing to ISO 4624 or ASTM D4542 Type 5 method E

Holiday testing

A coating is applied to a substrate to prevent corrosion, reduce abrasion, and reduce product contamination. The degree of coating continuity required is dictated by service conditions. Discontinuities in a coating are frequently very minute and not readily visible.

E/M Coating Services use NACE SP0188 standard practice as a procedure for electrical detection of minute discontinuities in coating systems that are applied to conductive substrates.

Mechanical properties

Pencil Hardness to ASTM D3363. Pencil hardness measurements have been used by the coatings industry for many years to determine the hardness of clear and pigmented organic coating films. This test method has also been used to determine the cure of these coatings, especially when forced dried using heat.

Mandrel flexibility/bend test to ASTM D522. Coatings attached to substrates are elongated when the substrates are bent during the manufacture of articles or when the articles are abused in service. These test methods have been useful in rating attached coatings for their ability to resist cracking when elongated.