Examination of coatings and surface treatments including:

• Anodising
• Thermal spraying
• Paints
• Plating
• Zinc/galvanising
• Chromating
• Case hardening
• Nitriding
• Laser cladding
• Electrical contacts

Analysis of surfaces and/or cross sections to allow surface features and details of individual layers to be identified such as:

• Texture
• Composition of individual layers
• Composition of constituent phases and particles within layers
• Thickness measurements
• Investigation of defects
• Delamination
• Corrosion damage
• Fretting and wear damage
• Porosity

Techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) can be used to examine features and constituents of surfaces and individual layers, with analysis of layers, corrosion products, phases etc by energy dispersive x-ray analysis. The information provides a description of the formulation and thickness of each layer.

Further examination techniques used to examine coating samples include optical microscopy and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy to determine any polymeric components.

Other properties relevant to coating analysis are hardness and adhesion. Microhardness surveys can be used to analyse case depths and hardness of individual layers. Adhesion of coatings to metal substrates can be determined by applying and removing tape over cuts made in the film.