EN ISO 3543:2000 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 3543:2000 - Metallic and non‑metallic coatings: Measurement of thickness - Beta backscatter method defines a non‑destructive procedure for measuring coating thickness using beta backscatter gauges. The standard covers both metallic and non‑metallic coatings on metallic and non‑metallic substrates and explains instrumentation, calibration, measurement procedure, uncertainty sources and reporting. It includes a clear safety warning about the use of beta‑emitting isotopes and advises compliance with relevant international and national radiation regulations.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Principle: Measurement is based on beta particle backscatter; backscatter intensity varies with the equivalent atomic numbers of coating and substrate and is used to determine mass per unit area (and thus thickness for uniform density).
• Apparatus: Requirements for beta backscatter gauges - radiation source (appropriate isotope and energy), probe/aperture, detector (e.g., Geiger–Müller tube), and readout (absolute count, normalized count or thickness units).
• Normalized backscatter (Xn): Use of a normalized backscatter count to make results independent of source activity, detector properties and measuring time. Typical curve regions:
  • 0 ≤ Xn ≤ 0.3 - approximately linear
  • 0.3