The proper and effective preparation of a surface prior to coating is essential. Making sure that the correct roughness – or profile – has been generated is essential.
If the profile is too low, the adhesion of the coating to the surface will be reduced. Too high and there is the danger that the profile peaks will remain uncoated – allowing rust spots to occur.
Surface contamination from salts such as chlorides, sulphates and nitrates have been shown to lead to
blistering of organic coatings, particularly in immersion conditions.
It is not sufficient to measure the cleanliness of the substrate. In a multi-layer coating process, it is
necessary to monitor and record the cleanliness of each layer prior to applying the next coating. When using
amine cured epoxy coatings, for example, in low ambient temperatures or in high humidity, a surface oiliness
or exudate may cause inter-coating adhesion failure.
Surface Preparation includes :
Please click on the appropriate image or on the heading for more information about each instrument.
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The Elcometer 123 Surface Profile Gauge is an easy to use gauge that measures the peak-to-valley height of a blast cleaned surface. The average of a series of measurements provides an indication of the surface roughness and allows the surfaces to be compared as blasting proceeds. Conforms to ASTM, SABS
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The Elcometer 224 Digital Surface Profile Gauge provides the very latest in surface profile technology. Accurate and user friendly, this surface profile gauge is available with ( Elcometer 224 Model T with Bluetooth® ) or without memory ( Elcometer 224 Model S ) and statistics. Memory versions can store up to 50,000 readings in 999 batches. Range 0 to 500 microns. Accuracy +/-5%. Conforms to ASTM, SABS
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The Elcometer 122 Testex Replica Tape allows the user to measure the peak-to-valley height of the profile and record it. Testex tape consists of foam with a non-compressible backing. The foam side is rubbed into the surface providing a permanent mould of the profile. The Elcometer 124 Thickness Gauge is then used to measure the peak-to-valley height of the profile formed. Conforms to ISO, DIS, ASTM
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The Elcometer 124 Dial Thickness Gauge is used to measure the peak-to-valley height of a surface profile formed in the Elcometer 122 Testex Tape. Conforms to ISO, BS, ASTM, NACE
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Whereas comparators allow the estimation of surface roughness by both touch and sight, the Elcometer 101 Scale 45 Roughness Gauge estimates the roughness of iron and steel surfaces. Its scale indicates the suitability of the surface for paints, metal coatings and hard metal coatings.
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The Elcometer 125 Surface Comparators allow the estimation of surface roughness by both touch and sight. These simple roughness gauges consist of 4 blasted profiles of varying roughness and are available either in a grit blasted or a shot blasted version. Conforms to ISO, ASTM
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Similar to the other comparators, the Elcometer 133 Ships Propeller Roughness Comparators have been developed for the specific profiles related to the condition of ships propellers over the life of the propeller. Comparators are also supplied with guidance on the report for Propeller Blades.
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The Elcometer 119 Pipe Pit Gauge is a small pocket sized gauge designed to identify the condition of a pipe. The gauge is placed horizontally on the surface of the pipe and the stylus is positioned into the base of the corrosion pit. The gauge shows the pit depth compared to the nominal pipe wall thickness.
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The TR100 Portable Roughness Tester is a hand-held digital display of measurement in Ra(ISO) or Rz(DIN). Measures on most surfaces with a flat axis (outside and inside of cylinders and cones), grooves and recessions greater than 80 x 30mm.
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Similar to the Elcometer 125, the Elcometer 129 Rubert & Rugotest Surface Comparators are available in two models: The Elcometer 129 Rubert is available in grit and shot versions whereas the Elcometer 129 Rugotest includes the shot and grit profiles on the same block. Conforms to ASTM
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The Elcometer 147 Cambridge Weld Gauge measures many aspects of welds both in metric and imperial units. It measures : Angle of preparation 0 to 60º, Misalignment (high – low), Fillet weld throat size, Fillet weld length, Excess weld metal (capping size), Depth of undercut, Depth of pitting, General linear measurements up to 60mm, 2mm edge roundness test
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The Elcometer 7060 SURFTEST SJ-201 Roughness Tester is designed for measurement of machined profiles, these gauges measure the profile by the use of a motorised travel of the sensor which passes over the surface to be tested. A range of different roughness values can be displayed on the LCD.
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The Elcometer 7060/4 SURFTEST SJ-301 Roughness Tester is a new generation, high performance roughness unit, working on the same principle as the Elcometer 7060 but fitted with a built-in printer and a large LCD touch panel for numeric/graphic display and settings. |
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The Elcometer 142 ISO 8502-3 Dust Tape Test kit allows assessment of the quantity and size of dust particles on surfaces prepared for painting. Dust on blast cleaned surfaces can reduce coating adhesion, leading to premature coating failure and sub-standard coating finish. The kit can be used in accordance with the recommendations of BS EN ISO 8502-3 either as a pass/fail test or as a permanent record of the presence of dust.
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This very easy to use salt contamination meter measures the level of salts on the surface. Soluble salts on a surface are absorbed into a special filter paper soaked with distilled water. The Elcometer 130 SCM400 Salt Contamination Meter measures the conductivity of the wet paper, calculates the salt level and displays it in ug/cm².
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The Soluble Salt Meter (SSM) is developed specifically to address problems with US Navy and IMO test protocols using the Bresle Patch. The Soluble Salt Meter (SSM) exactly duplicates the Bresle Patch process but with a higher accuracy and reproducibility. Measurements are automated and there are no consumables. The complete test sequence requires less than a minute. It is a fast, simple, easy to use instrument and you also have the ability to download readings to a computer. Complies with ISO Standard 8502-6, 8502-9
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The Elcometer 138 Bresle Kit & Elcometer 135 Bresle Patches are well known in the protective coatings field, with the Bresle Patch being one of the most popular tests for soluable salts. A patch is adhered to the substrate and the soluable salts are dissolved into distilled water using a rinsing motion caused by a syringe. A conductivity meter is then used to calculate the slat level. Conforms to ISO
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The SaltSmart Salt Contamination Meter is a light, handheld device for accurately measuring soluble salt content that has been flushed
from an accurately measured area on the substrate to be tested. The meter
employs easy-to-use menu-driven processes to guide the user through various tasks. It is an easy to use cost effective method of determining the presence of Salts prior to applying a coating. It is extremely quick and easy to use and has the added advantage of recording the readings. Another advanatge is the ability to do parallel testing by doing a number of tests at the same time. Conforms to ISO 8502-9, NACE SP0508, IMO PSPC, SSPC, US Navy 009-32 FY12
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Designed to accurately measure surface chloride, sulphate and nitrate ions in minutes, the Elcometer 134 CSN – Chlorides, Sulphates & Nitrates (Salts) offers the user the ability of trouble-free testing in the field. Supplied in an ABS plastic carrying case for easy portability around the site, each field kit is supplied with full instructions attached to the inside lid. Conforms to ISO, NACE, SSPC
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Chlorides deposited on a surface by contaminated abrasive during blasting can cause a coating to fail prematurely. Contamination can build up, particularly if the blast media is recycled several times. The Elcometer 134A Chloride Ion Test Kit for Abrasives is an easy to use, accurate field test which determines if your abrasive is contaminated with chlorides and thus prevent costly surface-related failures. Conforms to ISO, BS, EN
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The Elcometer 134S Chloride Detection Kit is used for Blast Cleaned Surfaces. Chloride salts left on the surface before the first coat is applied can result in the coating system being forced off the surface by corrosion or blistering before the full life of the coating has been reached. Salts are extracted using a rubber tube and the level of chloride on the surface is identified using a simple glass tube which identifies the concentration level. Conforms to ISO
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Coatings can fail due to chlorides being deposited on a surface by contaminated water during pressure washing, UHP water jetting or wet abrasive blasting. The Elcometer 134W Chloride Ion Test Kit for Water/Liquids is an easy to use, accurate, field based test which determines if your wash water is contaminated with chlorides and thus prevent costly surface coating failures.
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The Elcometer 128 Pictorial Surface Standards range of Surface Standards, covers most of those required for surface cleanliness. They include: The Swedish Standard, the British Standard and the SSPC Standards vis 1 and vis 3.
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