Dry Film Thickness (DFT)

Content trust and applicability

Author
TD Engineering Team
Publisher
Shanghai Tudou Technology Co., Ltd. | Shanghai, China
Scope

Reference definitions for paint-cell terminology used in feasibility reviews, equipment selection, process setup, and production planning.

Best used for

Best used to create shared vocabulary across engineering, purchasing, operations, integrators, and external suppliers.

Use with caution

Definitions do not replace equipment datasheets, coating TDS/SDS documents, or site-specific compliance review.

Evidence basis

Compiled from TD engineering terminology, project scoping language, and equipment-integration workflows.

Dry Film Thickness (DFT) is the measured thickness of the cured coating layer, typically expressed in microns (μm) or mils. DFT is a primary quality metric affecting appearance, durability, and material usage.

Why it matters in paint cells

  • •Critical quality metric for appearance and protection
  • •Directly affects material consumption and cost
  • •Too thick causes defects; too thin causes coverage issues

Measurement methods

  • •Magnetic gauges for ferrous substrates (non-destructive)
  • •Eddy current gauges for non-ferrous metals (non-destructive)
  • •Ultrasonic gauges for non-metallic substrates
  • •Destructive cross-section measurement for verification

Related resources

Configure your paint cell