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Designation: D 4414 – 95
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM

Standard Practice for

Measurement of Wet Film Thickness by Notch Gages1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4414; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 3. Summary of Practice

1.1 This practice describes the use of thin rigid metal 3.1 The material is applied to the articles to be coated and
notched gages, also called step or comb gages, in the measure- the wet film thickness measured with a notched gage.
ment of wet film thickness of organic coatings, such as paint, 3.2 Procedure A—A square or rectangular thin rigid metal
varnish, and lacquer. gage with notched sides, having tabs of varying lengths, is
1.2 Notched gage measurements are neither accurate nor pushed perpendicularly into the film. After removal from the
sensitive, but they are useful in determining approximate wet film, the gage is examined and the film thickness is determined
film thickness of coatings on articles where size(s) and shape(s) to lie between the clearance of the shortest tab wet by the film
prohibit the use of the more precise methods given in Methods and the clearance of the next shorter tab not wetted by the film.
D 1212. 3.3 Procedure B—A circular thin rigid metal gage having
1.3 This practice is divided into the following two proce- spaced notches of varying depths around its periphery is rolled
dures: perpendicularly across the film. After removal from the film,
1.3.1 Procedure A—A square or rectangular rigid metal the gage is examined and the film thickness is determined as
gage with notched sides is used to measure wet film thick- being between the clearance of the deepest face wetted and the
nesses ranging from 0.5 to 80 mils (13 to 2000 µm). Such a clearance of the next deepest notch face not wetted by the film.
gage is applicable to coatings on flat substrates and to coatings
on articles of various sizes and complex shapes where it is 4. Significance and Use
possible to get the end tabs of the gage to rest in the same plane 4.1 Wet film thickness measurements of coatings applied on
on the substrate. articles can be very helpful in controlling the thickness of the
1.3.2 Procedure B—A circular thin rigid metal notched gage final dry coating, although in some specifications the wet film
is used to measure wet film thicknesses ranging from 1 to 100 thickness is specified. Most protective and high performance
mils (25 to 2500 µm). Such a gage is applicable to coatings on coatings are applied to meet a requirement or specification for
flat substrates and to coatings on objects of various sizes and dry film thickness for each coat or for the completed coating
complex shapes. system, or for both.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 4.2 There is a direct relationship between dry film thickness
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for and wet film thickness. The wet film/dry film ratio is deter-
information only. mined by the volume of volatiles in the coating as applied,
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the including permitted thinning. With some flat coatings the dry
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the film thickness is higher than that calculated from the wet film
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- thickness. Consequently, the results from the notch gage are
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- not to be used to verify the nonvolatile content of a coating.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 4.3 Measurement of wet film thickness at the time of
application is most appropriate as it permits correction and
2. Referenced Documents adjustment of the film by the applicator at the time of
2.1 ASTM Standards: application. Correction of the film after it has dried or
D 1212 Test Methods for Measurement of Wet Film Thick- chemically cured requires costly extra labor time, may lead to
ness of Organic Coatings2 contamination of the film, and may introduce problems of
adhesion and integrity of the coating system.
4.4 The procedures using notched gages do not provide as
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-1 on Paint and accurate or sensitive measurements of wet film thickness as do
Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of the Interchemical and Pfund gages described in Methods
Subcommittee D01.23 on Physical Properties of Applied Paint Films.
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 1995. Published January 1996. Originally D 1212. Notch gages may, however, be used on nonuniform
published as D 4414 – 84. Last previous edition D 4414 – 84 (1990)e1. surfaces, like concrete block, that are too rough to use the
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.01.

1
 D 4414
Interchemical and Pfund gages. Also notched gages can be By 0.5 mil (13 µm) between 0 and 6 mils (0 to 150 µm),
very useful in the shop and field for determining the approxi- By 1 mil (25 µm) between 6 and 10 mils (150 to 250 µm),
mate thickness of wet films over commercial articles where By 2 mils (50 µm) between 10 and 30 mils (250 to 750 µm),
size(s) and shape(s) are not suitable for measurements by other and
types of gages. Examples of such items are ellipses, thin edges, By 5 mils (125 µm) over 30 mils (750 µm).
and corners.
8. Procedure
4.5 An operator experienced in the use of a notched gage
can monitor the coating application well enough to ensure the 8.1 Apply the coating material to a rigid substrate and test
minimum required film thickness will be obtained. with the gage immediately. The gage must be used immediately
4.6 Application losses, such as overspray, loss on transfer, following application of the coating. Some coatings lose
and coating residue in application equipment, are a significant solvents quickly and spray application increases the speed. The
unmeasurable part of the coating used on a job and are not resulting rapid reduction in wet film thickness can cause
accounted for by measurement of wet film thickness. misleading readings.
8.2 Locate an area sufficiently large to permit both end tabs
5. Report of the gage to rest on the substrate in the same plane.
5.1 Report the following information: 8.3 Push the gage perpendicularly into the wet film so that
5.1.1 The mean and range of the readings taken and the the two end tabs rest firmly on the substrate at the same time.
number of readings. 8.4 Or, set one end tab firmly on the substrate and lower the
5.1.2 The smallest graduation of the gage used. gage until the other end tab is firmly in contact with the
substrate.
8.5 Remove the gage from the film and examine the tabs.
The film thickness is determined as being between the clear-
ance of the shortest tab wettedd and the clearance of the next
shorter tab not wetted by the film.
8.6 Clean the gage immediately after each reading by
wiping it on a dry or solvent-dampened cloth so that subse-
quent readings are not affected. Do not clean with metal
FIG. 1 Rectangular Notched Gage
scrapers.
8.7 Repeat the procedure in 8.2-8.5 for at least three
locations on the film. The number of readings required to
6. Precision and Bias obtain a good estimate of the film thickness varies with the
6.1 The precision and bias of Procedure A or B for measur- shape and size of the article being coated, with the operator’s
ing wet film thickness with notch gages are very dependent on experience, and whether one or more of the following prob-
methods of film application, time that the measurement is taken lems are encountered:
after film application, mechanical condition of the notch gages, 8.7.1 Some coatings may not wet (leave residue on) some
and the step range of the gages. metal gages. However, the film itself may show where contact
6.2 Generally, the agreement between notch gages is good was made. When reading the gage, look at both the gage and
because they are insensitive to small differences in film the film itself for verification of the reading.
thickness, that is the step intervals of the gages are relatively 8.7.2 The gage may slip on the surface. Ignore such read-
large. ings.
8.7.3 The surface may be coarse and false readings pro-
PROCEDURE A duced. The spot where the gage is used must be as uniform as
possible and questionable readings ignored.
7. Apparatus 8.8 Determine the mean and range of the readings.
7.1 Notched Gage, square or rectangular, thin rigid metal
plate, with notched sides (see Fig. 1), made from steel or 9. Report
aluminum3 (Note 1). Nonmetallic gages shall not be used. 9.1 Report the mean and range of the readings.
NOTE 1—Aluminum or aluminum alloy gages are more easily distorted PROCEDURE B
and may exhibit greater wear than steel gages. Gages made of plastic or
deformable metal are not suitable. 10. Apparatus
7.1.1 Each notched side shall consist of a series of tabs 10.1 Circular Notched Gage,4 thin metal disk, with cali-
(between notches) varying in length and located in a line brated notches of various depths spaced around its periphery
between two end tabs equal in length and longest in the row.
7.1.2 As an example, the tabs on one row of a gage may 4
The “Hotcake” Wet Film Thickness Gage is covered by a patent held by Paul
differ in length as follows: N. Gardner, Sr., 316 N.E. First Street, Pompano Beach, FL 33060. Interested parties
are invited to submit information regarding the identification of acceptable alterna-
tives to this patented item to the Committee on Standards, ASTM Headquarters, 100
Barr Harbor Drive., West Conshohocken, PA 19428. Your comments will receive
3
These gages are commercially available from various coating equipment and careful consideration at a meeting of the responsible technical committee, which
instrument suppliers. you may attend.

2
 D 4414
(see Fig. 2). Each notch has a recessed flat face. A hole is in the 11. Procedure
center of the disk. 11.1 Select a gage that has a segment with a thickness scale
10.2 Examples of the scale increments and ranges provided appropriate for the expected range of wet-film thickness.
by the notches are: 11.2 Locate areas on the rigid substrate sufficiently large to
10.2.1 1.0-mil increments between 1 to 4 mils (25 µm to 100 permit the gage to roll for at least 11⁄2 in. (40 mm).
µm),
11.3 Apply the liquid coating to the substrate and immedi-
10.2.2 2-mil increments between 6 and 60 mils (150 µm to
ately place the selected segment perpendicularly on the wet
1500 µm), and
film and in firm contact with the substrate. Roll the gage across
10.2.3 4-mil increments between 60 and 80 mils (1500 µm
the film, holding the disk with a thumb and index finger in the
to 2000 µm).
center hole.
11.4 Remove the gage from the film and inspect the notch
faces. The wet-film thickness is determined as being between
the clearance of the deepest notch face wetted and the
clearance of the next deeper notch face not wetted by the film.
11.5 Clean the gage immediately after each reading by
wiping on a dry or solvent-dampened cloth so that subsequent
readings are not affected. Do not clean with metal scrapers.
11.6 Repeat the procedure from 11.1-11.5 as described in
8.7.
11.7 Determine the mean and range of the readings.

12. Report
12.1 Report the mean and range of the readings.

13. Keywords
FIG. 2 Circular Notched Gage 13.1 circular notched gage; rectangular notched gage

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with any item mentioned in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such
patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

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