Ball cratering

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-001104",
  "term": "Ball cratering",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A destructive method for determining the thickness of thin films or coatings by grinding a spherical crater into the coated surface using a rotating ball and an abrasive slurry. The diameter of the crater and the diameter of the exposed substrate are measured under a microscope. The film thickness is then calculated from these dimensions and the known diameter of the grinding ball.",
  "subject": "Analytical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "radial sectioning"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2020, 92, 1781. 'Glossary of methods and terms used in surface chemical analysis (IUPAC Recommendations 2020)' on page 1799 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2019-0404)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/ball-cratering/"
}