Development of an ultrasonics-based flash test used for fast qualification of the mechanical resistance of industrial organic coatings

The long-term efficiency of organic coatings used for protection against corrosion is evaluated using the flash test based on ultrasonic solicitation presented in Part I [J. Pigerre, C. Roos, T. Mehinto, I. Pierrejean, P. Rodriguez, J.L. Mansot, C. Barreau, Prog. Org. Coat. 50 (2004) 132-137]. For that purpose kinetics and morphologies of stripping for various samples have been quantitatively studied. The results are interpreted in terms of toughness of coatings and coating/metal adhesion. The behaviours of various samples, naturally exposed on our exposure stand located in Cayenne, are then correlated to the flash test results. This allows us to define that the morphology of the coating stripping is the most relevant parameter to estimate the organic coating efficiency.