1.1This guide outlines a general method for determining the mass per unit area of electrodeposited, electroless, mechanically-deposited, vacuum-deposited, anodicoxide, and chemical conversion coatings by gravimetric and other chemical analysis procedures.
1.2This guide determines the average mass per unit area over a measured area.
1.3The stripping methods cited are described in specifications or in the open literature or have been used routinely by at least one laboratory.
1.4The procedures outlined can be used for many coating-substrate combinations. They cannot be used where the coating cannot be separated from the substrate by chemical or physical means as would be the case if white brass were plated with yellow brass.
1.5In principle, these procedures can be used to measure very thin coatings or to measure coatings over small areas, but not thin coatings over small areas. The limits depend on the required accuracy. For example, 2.5 mg/cm2 of coating might require 2.5 mg of coating covering 1 cm2, but 0.1 mg/cm2 of coating would require 25 cm2 to obtain 2.5 mg of coating.
1.6The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.7This 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.