The texture of peaks and valleys created by abrasive blasting, reported as average peak-to-valley height. Most coating systems call for roughly 1.5 to 4 mils (38 to 100 microns), with thick linings and thermal spray needing more. Inspectors measure it with replica tape and a spring micrometer, a depth micrometer or a stylus instrument. Too shallow and adhesion suffers; too deep and peaks poke through thin primers and rust.
Replica tape reads 1.2 mils on the anchor profile, spec wants 2 to 3, switch to a coarser grit.
Also heard as
- surface profile
- profile
- blast profile
Related terms
Tooth
Painters' word for the roughness on a surface that gives a coating something to grip.
Near-white blast
Blast grade allowing light shadows or stains on no more than 5 percent of the surface, the usual immersion standard.
Black beauty
Genericized name for black coal slag abrasive used in open blasting of steel.
DFT
Dry film thickness: the thickness of a cured coating layer, measured in mils or microns.