ADVANCED METHODS AND MODELS FOR DESCRIBING COATING APPEARANCE

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has recently initia ted a study to advance appearance met ology. A systems approach which applies technological advances in optical metrology, mathematical mode ling, and computer rendering to the development of new methods of appe arance characterization and to more accurate methods of modeling the a ppearance of coatings and coated objects will be used. Corresponding e xperimental and modeling research activities will be conducted in four areas: coating composition, microstructure of coating films, reflecta nce properties, and appearance descriptions. The parameterized mathema tical models and computer rendering, when coupled with advanced measur ements, will support the capability of researchers and engineers to as sess the contribution of coating constituents to appearance and help d esign coatings with appropriate initial appearance and durability prop erties. This paper presents an overview of the planned research. Publi shed by Elsevier Science S.A.