Your needs : to analyze and study the state of a coating on your products and materials as part of an R&D project or following a product failure
What is a coating ?
A surface coating is applied to a product or material to improve their surface properties (appearance, resistance, adherence, permeability…) and to protect them from environmental attacks. Coatings can be organic (polymer) or inorganic (metallic or ceramic) in nature.
To modify the surface properties of a material to make it more compatible with its environment and the conditions in which it will be implemented, different methods can be used :
- Mechanical operations which work on existing material : burnishing, gumming, polishing…
- Chemical operations aiming to apply a solution to a product’s surface : varnish, paint, adhesive…
- Electrochemical operations or passivation / anodization systems, which seek to chemically modify a surface using a surface treatment bath
Why perform coating analysis in a laboratory?
Surface treatment operations are an essential step of R&D processes to determine the performance of a finished product and to ensure its longevity. The point of origin of product failures such as ruptures, wear or the apparition of a stain can be linked to the quality of a coating.
Analysis and characterization of coatings make it possible to determine the chemical composition of layers and to verify their compliance and their performance.
Support and assistance from an expert laboratory using techniques specific to the study of coatings will allow you to improve the efficiency and quality if your products while complying with environmental and regulatory constraints.
Our solution : to carry out characterizations and expertise of your coating using specific techniques
Thanks to expertise in surface treatments for organic or metallic elements, FILAB laboratory can assist you in analyzing defects found in the coating of a product by providing various services :
Our services
Chemical composition analysis of a coating
Identification and characterization of surface layers (coatings, surface treatments…)
Coating impurity analysis
R&D support : choice of surface treatment or cleaning procedure
Evaluation of the state of a surface and the homogeneity of surface elements
Coating thickness measurements
Accelerated aging tests
To provide these services, FILAB laboratory uses cutting-edge analytical techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with an EDX microprobe (SEM FEG EDX) and outermost layer analysis techniques such as ToF-SIMS, XPS…
Advanced analytical techniques for coating expertise
At FILAB, our coating analysis laboratory relies on advanced analytical techniques to deliver precise and reliable coating expertise for industrial applications.
The selection of methods depends on the nature of the coating, the substrate material, and the objective of the investigation (R&D validation, failure analysis, compliance verification or performance assessment).
We rely on high-performance techniques such as:
Depending on your needs, complementary coating testing methods such as FTIR analysis, impurity detection or accelerated aging tests can be implemented.
By combining these techniques within the same coating laboratory, FILAB provides comprehensive coating analysis services to support manufacturers in improving product performance and resolving surface-related issues.
Our FAQ
A coating analysis laboratory is a specialized facility that performs chemical, structural and thickness analysis of surface coatings. It helps manufacturers evaluate coating performance, identify defects, ensure compliance with specifications and conduct coating failure analysis.
Coating analysis is recommended during R&D validation, after a product failure (corrosion, delamination, blistering, cracking), when verifying supplier compliance, or when optimizing surface treatment processes.
Coating failure analysis is a laboratory investigation aimed at determining the root cause of coating defects such as adhesion loss, corrosion, peeling or surface contamination. It combines microscopy, chemical analysis and thickness measurement techniques.
Coating thickness can be measured using cross-sectional microscopy, SEM analysis or other non-destructive testing methods depending on the substrate and coating type. Thickness verification ensures compliance with industrial and regulatory requirements.
Coating analysis laboratories support industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, medical devices, energy, construction and chemical manufacturing.
A coating laboratory can analyze organic coatings (paints, varnishes, polymers), metallic coatings (plating, anodizing), ceramic coatings and multilayer surface treatments.
To request a quote for coating analysis or coating expertise, you can contact FILAB via our online contact form, by phone, or by email.
Please provide details about your project, including the type of coating and substrate, the analysis required (failure analysis, thickness measurement, surface characterization, etc.), any applicable standards, urgency level, and the number of samples.
Our experts will review your request and provide a customized technical and commercial proposal within 24 to 48 hours.
Turnaround times depend on the type of coating analysis required, the analytical techniques involved, and the complexity of the expertise project.
FILAB is committed to delivering fast and reliable results, with timelines tailored to your industrial constraints and project deadlines. Express analysis solutions can also be implemented when required.
