Overview
EN ISO 14923:2003 - Thermal spraying: Characterization and testing of thermally sprayed coatings provides guidance on the common tests and characterization methods used for thermally sprayed coatings. It gives an overview of coating features, manufacturing influences and widely used test procedures and criteria. The standard does not attempt to detail every coating type or process (since virtually all meltable materials and many thermal spray processes exist) but focuses on general, industry‑accepted methods for evaluating sprayed coatings.
Key topics
- Scope and limits: Guidance for general characterization and testing; specialized methods are only used in specific or laboratory cases.
- Coating manufacturing: Reference to process categories and material forms (powder, wire, rod, cord) and their technical supply conditions. (See EN 657, EN 1274, EN ISO 14919.)
- Coating properties: Typical characteristics of thermally sprayed coatings - heterogeneous, anisotropic, microporous, presence of microcracks and oxide inclusions; adhesion mechanisms (mechanical anchoring and physical adhesion), and conditions for metallurgical bonding (e.g., self‑fluxing alloys or diffusion heat treatment).
- Microstructure and defects: Definitions and assessment of lamellae structure, pores, oxides, inclusions, cracks, nodules, flaking and peeling using metallography and cross‑section analysis.
- Tests and methods: Overview of non‑destructive and destructive test methods commonly used for thermally sprayed coatings, including thickness measurement, adhesion/pull‑off, hardness, porosity and corrosion/wear evaluations. The standard references established measurement and test methods rather than prescribing a single protocol.
- Technological properties: Guidance on evaluating wear resistance, corrosion resistance (including oxidation), machinability and thermal shock resistance.
Applications and users
EN ISO 14923:2003 is aimed at professionals involved in surface treatment and protective coatings, including:
- Coating manufacturers and thermal spraying operators
- Quality assurance and inspection engineers in aerospace, automotive, energy, power generation and heavy industry
- Materials and corrosion engineers assessing coating thickness, adhesion, microstructure and performance
- Test laboratories and certification bodies that perform non‑destructive testing (NDT) and destructive evaluations of sprayed coatings
Practical uses include selecting appropriate test suites for quality control, interpreting metallographic results, specifying acceptance criteria and harmonizing inspection practices across suppliers.
Related standards
EN ISO 14923:2003 cross‑references many normative documents commonly used with thermal spraying, for example:
- EN 657 (Terminology, classification of thermal spraying)
- EN 1274 / EN ISO 14919 (spray powders, wires/rods/cords)
- EN ISO 1463, EN ISO 2178, EN ISO 2360 (coating thickness measurement methods)
- EN ISO 4541, ISO 9227 (corrosion tests)
- EN ISO 14922 series (quality requirements for thermally sprayed structures)
Keywords: EN ISO 14923:2003, thermal spraying, thermally sprayed coatings, characterization, testing, coating thickness, adhesion, microstructure, corrosion resistance, wear resistance.