For the quality control of colored sheets, a film thickness sensor applied to a coil coating line has been developed. The thickness is related to the amount of infrared energy absorbed in the film. Infrared reflectivity of coated coils in the two wavelengths is measured in order to obtain an accurate thickness with reducing the errors caused by the variation of steel surfaces.
Continuous and noncontact measurement of coated film thickness has been made within an accuracy of ±0.3 μm of σ for primer films of about 6 μm in thickness and of ±1.0 μm of σ for top films of about 20 μm in thickness.