Why thickness matters
Too thin and corrosion protection falls short; too thick and threads bind or parts will not assemble—especially screws/nuts.
The right thickness balances protection against keeping the part dimensionally usable.
Common measurement methods
- Magnetic / eddy-current gauge — non-destructive, fast, great on the shop floor.
- XRF — X-ray reads thickness and coating composition, accurate for thin layers.
- Cross-section — cut, polish and view under a microscope for a true reading; used for reference/disputes.
How to specify
State a target in microns (µm) or cite a standard such as ASTM B633 for zinc plating.
We sample every lot and can issue the results with the job.
FAQ
How thick should zinc plating be?+
It depends on use—indoors maybe 5–8 µm, outdoors 12 µm and up. Tell us the application and we advise.
Is thickness measurement destructive?+
Mostly non-destructive (gauge/XRF); a cross-section uses a sample part when a precise reference is needed.
Is too thick a problem?+
Yes—threads may bind or assembly gets hard, so it is controlled to suit the part dimensions.
