ISO 2361:2025

Overview

ISO 2361:2025 - Electrodeposited nickel coatings on magnetic and non-magnetic substrates - Measurement of coating thickness - Magnetic method - specifies a non‑destructive magnetic method for measuring the thickness of electrodeposited nickel (commonly called e-nickel) on both magnetic and non‑magnetic substrates. The standard distinguishes two coating/substrate types: Type A (nickel on magnetic substrates) and Type B (nickel on non‑magnetic substrates). It notes the method may not be applicable to autocatalytic (electroless) nickel coatings when those are non‑magnetic.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Measurement principles: instruments measure either magnetic attraction between a permanent magnet and the coating/substrate or magnetic reluctance of a flux path through coating and substrate.
• Effective measuring ranges:
  • Magnetic attraction principle: up to 50 µm for Type A and up to 25 µm for Type B.
  • Reluctance instruments: effective ranges up to 1 mm or more.
• Factors affecting accuracy:
  • Magnetic properties of the base metal and residual magnetism
  • Base‑metal thickness and a critical thickness specific to each instrument/probe
  • Direction of mechanical working (e.g., rolling) and probe wear
  • Edge effects, curvature, surface roughness, external magnetic fields, foreign particles
  • Probe pressure, orientation and positioning
• Calibration and procedure:
  • Requires calibration against traceable standards and consideration of instrument-specific calibration curves
  • Guidance on number of readings, probe positioning, measuring on hot surfaces or underwater, and handling residual magnetism
• Measurement uncertainty: defined for correctly adjusted and used instruments; the standard adds clauses on factors influencing uncertainty and accuracy requirements.

Applications and who uses it

ISO 2361:2025 is practical for:

• Quality control and inspection in electroplating shops and surface‑finish laboratories
• Coating thickness verification in automotive, aerospace, electronics and tooling industries
• Metallurgists and materials engineers assessing corrosion protection or functional nickel layers
• Manufacturers and calibrators of magnetic‑type coating thickness gauges It is especially useful where non‑destructive measurement is required and where substrate magnetic properties must be accounted for.

Related standards

• ISO 1463 - Microscopical method for coating thickness
• ISO 2064 - Definitions and conventions for thickness measurement
• ISO 2177 - Coulometric (anodic dissolution) method

Keywords: ISO 2361:2025, electrodeposited nickel, e-nickel, coating thickness, magnetic method, non-destructive measurement, Type A coatings, Type B coatings, magnetic attraction, reluctance, calibration, measurement uncertainty.