Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 31

Handheld devices
allow personnel to
easily and quickly
perform lab-quality
coating thickness
measurements.
IMAGES COURTESY OF
KETT US

When specificity and adhesion matter in anodizing
and electroplating, a coating thickness gauge should
be able to read the thickness of the coating to the
most minute measurement. This can play a major
factor in preventing corrosion while optimizing the
process by eliminating any excess use of the expensive
plating product.
Another way a coating thickness gauge can make a
significant impact is in testing anti-corrosion coatings
in pipe or piping to find weak spots, where the coating is too thin and a breach of the coating could make
the substrate susceptible to corrosion. Knowing about
these trouble spots can prevent a problem well before
it occurs. This could involve aircraft engine piping and
tubing or exhaust pipes.
A nondestructive gauge is a perfect way to ensure that
the protective coating has not been applied too thinly
or become so over time. Excessively thin coatings are
more likely to be chipped or breached, which can lead to
corrosion promoters like water or oxygen getting under
the coating and accelerating corrosion in the substrate.

Simplifying Coating
Thickness Measurement
Although traditional laboratory and online based coating thickness measurement techniques are useful in
the right setting, they have lacked the simplicity and
flexibility required for frequent spot checks. Often, this
involves sampling, sample preparation and taking the
sample to the lab for evaluation, which requires the
participation of staff adequately trained for the process.
Other conventional coating tests, such as scratch testing, have been destructive or invasive and damaged the
sample. This meant that a product could not be returned
to the production line, or that a coated surface had to
be re-coated or repaired in the field at an additional
expense. Also, since only a small portion of the component may be tested, results may not be representative
of the entire situation.
Consequently, various portable coating thickness
measurement devices have been developed. However,
these have not always provided the necessary accuracy
or been sufficiently easy to use.

www.AviationPros.com

31


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Aircraft Maintenance Technology

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Aircraft Maintenance Technology

Editor's Takeoff: We Are Alone, Together
Developing a Strong Bond
Tech Spotlight: Meeting Military Standards
Paints and Coatings: State of the Industry Report: Aircraft Paints & Coatings
Special Feature: Does Your Coating Thickness Meet Spec?
MRO Feature: The Journey of Elliott Aviation
Product Focus: Ladders, Stands & Platforms - Build, Tear Down, Reuse
ARSA Insight: What Relief Looks Like
GAMA Insight: Strengthening the General Aviation Workforce
Professionalism: Compassionate Leadership During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Shop Talk: Welcome to Papa's Playhouse
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 1
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 2
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 3
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - Editor's Takeoff: We Are Alone, Together
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 5
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 6
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 7
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 8
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 9
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - Developing a Strong Bond
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 11
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 12
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 13
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 14
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 15
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - Tech Spotlight: Meeting Military Standards
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 17
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 18
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 19
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 20
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 21
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 22
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 23
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - Paints and Coatings: State of the Industry Report: Aircraft Paints & Coatings
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 25
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 26
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 27
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 28
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 29
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - Special Feature: Does Your Coating Thickness Meet Spec?
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 31
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 32
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 33
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - MRO Feature: The Journey of Elliott Aviation
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 35
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 36
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 37
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - Product Focus: Ladders, Stands & Platforms - Build, Tear Down, Reuse
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 39
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 40
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 41
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 42
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 43
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - ARSA Insight: What Relief Looks Like
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 45
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - GAMA Insight: Strengthening the General Aviation Workforce
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 47
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - Professionalism: Compassionate Leadership During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 49
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - Shop Talk: Welcome to Papa's Playhouse
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 51
Aircraft Maintenance Technology - 52
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