DIN 50986

Introducing DIN 50986- Industrial Physics 

DIN 50986 is a global DIN testing standard for determining the dry film thickness of paints and varnishes using the wedge-cut method, also known as the scribe and drill approach. 

This DIN paint inspection standard specifies a destructive method of dry film thickness testing at a microscopic level. DIN 50986 dry film thickness testing is suitable for almost all coat-substrate combinations and you can use it to determine the single film thicknesses of coating systems too.  

The DIN 50986 dry film thickness testing standard cannot be applied – or can only be applied with restrictions – if you’re working with: soft or elastic coatings or those where no recognizable scribe or drill hole can be observed; substrates that are too hard to be scribed or drilled; when there’s too low a visual contrast between the coating and substrate; and when the film thickness is larger than the depth of field of the measuring microscope. 

Why is dry film thickness testing important?

Paint thickness has a huge impact on performance, appearance and application. It can also be a key part of making sure that a coating meets industry standards, so it’s essential you test and inspect and get to know exactly what you’re dealing with. 

There are two states in which paint thickness is measured: wet film thickness and dry film thickness. As the names suggest, one is measured before the paint has dried and the other is the paint’s thickness after the solvent has evaporated and the paint has dried. 

A coating thickness gauge is designed to measure how thick a coating is. Different types of gauges use different methods to determine the same result, ranging from simple handheld options to more advanced machines for complex measurements. 

Our DIN 50986 testing equipment

So, how can Industrial Physics improve your DIN 50986 testing?  

TQC Sheen Super PIG Paint Inspection Gauge III 

The Super PIG Paint Inspection Gauge III (SP1100) is a destructive precision tool for inspection and thickness measurement on single or multiple coats on virtually all substrates, including wood, plastics and metals. 

Developed by TQC Sheen, our paint testing specialist brand, the Super PIG Paint Inspection Gauge III (SP1100) is a highly accurate coating thickness tester that also observes and measures substrate and film defects. 

TQC Sheen Surface Microscope with Illumination

Our TQC illuminated hand-held surface microscope has a built-in lamp for surface inspections. It features 40x magnification and it’s equipped with an adjustable focus wheel, a measuring reticle and a controllable direct light source. 

Need DIN 50986 testing solutions? Get in touch  

We’ve learnt a thing or two about paint thickness testing over the decades. Now Industrial Physics is recognized as a brand that likes to bring coating thickness gauges and paint thickness testers to market. 

We like to share our knowledge and we’re here to help you to answer your questions about dry film thickness testing. Across the knowledgebase section of our website we publish lots of blogs on related subjects.   

First up, there’s this one – how to measure paint thickness with a coating thickness gauge – a blog that does what it says on the tin! Then perhaps you’ll find this second article useful – how to use a wet film thickness gauge. 

If you have any questions about DIN 50986 paint thickness testing and the coating thickness gauges we make, then please just get in touch!

Contact us – Industrial Physics

Your global test and measurment partner for DIN 50986