The thickness of a coating is often critical to its performance. For most nonferrous coatings on steel, the magnetic method is reliable for measuring coating thickness nondestructively and is suitable for specification acceptance testing and SPC/SQC applications. The test method requires that the magnetic properties of the substrate used during the calibration be the same as that of the test specimen.

1.1 This test method covers the use of magnetic instruments for the nondestructive measurement of the thickness of nonmagnetic coatings over ferrous or other magnetic base metals.

Note 1—Autocatalytically deposited nickel-phosphorus alloys containing more than 8 % phosphorus are sufficiently nonmagnetic to be measured by this test method, as long as the measurement is made prior to any heat treatment.

1.2 These instruments measure either the magnetic attraction between a magnet and the basis metal, as influenced by the presence of the coating, or the reluctance of a magnetic-flux path passing through the coating and the basis metal.

1.3 Measurements made in accordance with this test method will be in compliance with the requirements of ISO International Standard 2178 as printed in 1982.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.