Coating Analysis

What coating analysis delivers

Coating analysis provides a detailed assessment of protective and functional coatings, ensuring their performance, reliability, and compliance with specifications. The service identifies defects such as porosity, delamination, and microcracks while measuring thickness, uniformity, and adhesion to verify that a coating meets the relevant industry standards.

Analytical techniques

We characterize each coating with a combination of imaging and cross-sectional methods:

• 3D Optical Microscopy: high-resolution imaging and profilometry to assess surface topography, uniformity, and visible defects.
• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM): detailed examination of coating microstructure, morphology, and porosity.
• Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS): optional elemental analysis of the coating and substrate.
• Cross-sectional Analysis: precise measurement of coating thickness, evaluation of adhesion, and detection of internal defects such as cracks, voids, and delamination.

Where it adds value

This assessment approach supports design optimization, manufacturing verification, maintenance planning, and component longevity across demanding operational environments.

Case study

We successfully analyzed a babbitt coating failure on roller bearings caused by insufficient lubrication and contact fatigue, a practical demonstration of using coating analysis to identify the underlying failure mode.