For seventy years Elcometer has been a world leader in the design, manufacture and supply of inspection equipment to the coatings, concrete and metal detection industry.
Elcometer’s comprehensive range of coating inspection, ultrasonic NDT inspection, appearance & gloss measurement and concrete & metal detection equipment has everything you need to accurately measure; surface profile to cleanliness; relative humidity to dewpoint; wet film to dry film coating thickness; material thickness to flaw detection; coating adhesion to gloss; pinhole to porosity detection; metal detection to concrete inspection.
From the preparation of the surface to be coated, through climatic condition monitoring to the dry film thickness evaluation, visual assessment and gauge-based testing will ensure adequate process control.
Elcometer offer a range of visual standards for rust removal and a simple test for dust on blast-cleaned surfaces. In order to determine the level of soluble salt contamination of the blast cleaned surface.
A range of salt contamination methods are available including the Bresle Patch Method, the Saturated Filter Paper method and the chloride-specific titration tube method.
Ensuring the correct surface preparation optimises the performance of the coating and material usage. Elcometer supply a range of products to meet each of the key industry standard surface preparation inspection methods, including surface condition, blasting parameters, surface profile, surface roughness and surface cleanliness.
Elcometer offer a range of dewpoint and relative humidity meters, thermometers and anemometers to monitor climatic conditions.
Adhesion testing after the coating process will quantify the strength of the bond between substrate and coating, or between different coating layers or the cohesive strength of some substrates. Routine testing is used as part of inspection and maintenance procedures to help detect potential coating failures. When selecting an adhesion gauge, it is important to use the same inspection test methods throughout the inspection to ensure accurate comparisons.
Runs & Sags: Coatings move under gravity leaving a thin dry film.
Cissing: When a coating does not re-flow to cover the voids generated by air bubbles being released from the surface of a coating.
Cratering: If the substrate is wet or the coating has poor flow characteristics, voids are created in the coating.
Pinholes: Caused by air entrapment which is then released from the surface, or by the entrapment of particulates (dust, sand etc.) which do not stay in place.
Over Coating: If too much coating is applied, as it cures internal stresses of the coating can cause it to crack.
Under Coating: Uncoated areas, or where the coating flows away from edges or corners of a substrate or welds. Insufficient coating over a rough surface profile may also leave the peaks of the profile exposed.
Our products are used across numerous industry sectors. In all cases, there is always a need to undertake a number of specific inspections during quality control assessments — as one parameter can affect another.
Elcometer has put together a number of inspection kits which are both product and industry specific — combining those gauges from our range into one robust carry case, ideal for transporting to and from the inspection site.
Inspection Mirrors: It may be necessary to take a detailed look at a specific area where you cannot get to. In this case an inspection mirror is required.
Magnifiers & Microscopes: For close up investigations, the inspector may require magnification of the surface for a clearer understanding.
Torches/Flashlight: In dark or shaded areas such as in ballast tanks or on large production sites, further investigation may require additional light.
Publications: Inspection manuals for general coating defects or those specific to pipeline inspection.
Capable of measuring materials at temperatures up to 482°C (900°F), the Elcometer NDT material thickness, precision thickness and flaw detection gauges are the ideal ultrasonic instruments for measuring material thickness, sound velocity and detecting a wide range of flaws in a broad range of industry applications, including the oil & gas, marine, transport, power and civil engineering sectors.
Half-cell versions of the Covermeter can be used to assess the probability that corrosion is taking place on the rebar. Test Hammers are used to assess the surface hardness of cured concrete and Elcometer offers several moisture meters that can be used to determine if the structure is sufficiently dry for coating.
Adhesion testers for coating on concrete are available using either hand-operated mechanical methods or the automatic hydraulic method.
