IP Library Granted Patent US 12,729,959
Granted Patent B2
US 12,729,959 · App. 18/256,246 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Coating film evaluation structure and evaluation method

Inventors: Azusa Ishii (Tokyo, JP); Shingo Mineta (Tokyo, JP); Soichi Oka (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NTT, INC.
G01B21/08G01N17/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,729,959
App. No.
18/256,246
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A coating film evaluation structure includes a laminate including a first sheet, a second sheet, and a third sheet which are laminated. The second sheet is disposed on the first sheet, and the third sheet is disposed on the second sheet. In the laminate, the area of each sheet gradually reduces in the lamination direction, and a stepped portion is provided at an end portion. The coating film to be evaluated and the plurality of sheets have different colors. The coating film evaluation structure includes a coating film layer formed on the sheet having the largest area among the plurality of sheets so as to cover the other sheets and having a flat surface.

Claims (31)

1 . A coating film evaluation structure for evaluating a decrease in thickness of a coating film, the structure comprising:

a laminate comprising a plurality of sheets laminated together;

a coating film layer on a first sheet of the plurality of sheets having a largest area among the plurality of sheets, the coating film layer covering remaining sheets of the plurality of sheets, wherein the coating film layer has a flat surface and comprises a same material as the coating film;

wherein areas of each of the sheets in the laminate become smaller along a lamination direction and a stepped portion is provided at an end portion of the laminate;

wherein the coating film and each of the sheets have different colors; and

wherein each of the sheets has a known thickness.

2 . The structure according to claim 1 , wherein a second sheet of the plurality of sheets having a smaller area is disposed at a center portion of the first sheet having a larger area in a plan view.

3 . The structure according to claim 2 , wherein each sheet of the plurality of sheets comprises a polymer material containing any of a hydroxyl group, an amino group, a carboxyl group, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a urethane bond, a urea bond, an aromatic ring, an amide bond, and an imide bond.

4 . The structure according to claim 3 , wherein the polymer material comprises any of a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, an acrylic resin, a fluorine resin, a silicone resin, alkyl silicate, acrylic silicate, an acrylic styrene resin, a styrene resin, a melamine resin, a polyamide resin, and a polyimide resin, or a composite thereof.

5 . The structure according to claim 1 , wherein each sheet of the plurality of sheets comprises a polymer material containing any of a hydroxyl group, an amino group, a carboxyl group, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a urethane bond, a urea bond, an aromatic ring, an amide bond, and an imide bond.

6 . The structure according to claim 5 , wherein an ultraviolet absorber or a light stabilizer is added to each sheet of the plurality of sheets.

7 . The structure according to claim 5 , wherein the polymer material comprises any of a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, an acrylic resin, a fluorine resin, a silicone resin, alkyl silicate, acrylic silicate, an acrylic styrene resin, a styrene resin, a melamine resin, a polyamide resin, and a polyimide resin, or a composite thereof.

8 . The structure according to claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer on a first surface of the first sheet of the plurality of sheets, wherein the first surface is opposite a second surface on which the coating film layer is provided.

9 . A coating film evaluation method for evaluating a decrease in thickness of a coating film, the method comprising:

installing a coating film evaluation structure in a vicinity of a structure on which the coating film is provided, wherein the coating film evaluation structure comprises:

a laminate comprising a plurality of sheets laminated together, wherein areas of each of the sheets in the laminate become smaller along a lamination direction and a stepped portion is provided at an end portion of the laminate, wherein the coating film and each of the sheets have different colors, and wherein each of the sheets has a known thickness; and

a coating film layer on a first sheet of the plurality of sheets having a largest area among the plurality of sheets, the coating film layer covering remaining sheets of the plurality of sheets, wherein the coating film layer has a flat surface and comprises a same material as the coating film; and

evaluating an exposed state of the plurality of sheets due to a decrease in a thickness of the coating film layer by checking colors of the plurality of sheets after installing the coating film evaluation structure.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein each sheet of the plurality of sheets comprises a polymer material containing any of a hydroxyl group, an amino group, a carboxyl group, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a urethane bond, a urea bond, an aromatic ring, an amide bond, and an imide bond.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the polymer material comprises any of a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, an acrylic resin, a fluorine resin, a silicone resin, alkyl silicate, acrylic silicate, an acrylic styrene resin, a styrene resin, a melamine resin, a polyamide resin, and a polyimide resin, or a composite thereof.

12 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein a second sheet of the plurality of sheets having a smaller area is disposed at a center portion of the first sheet having a larger area in a plan view.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein each sheet of the plurality of sheets comprises a polymer material containing any of a hydroxyl group, an amino group, a carboxyl group, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a urethane bond, a urea bond, an aromatic ring, an amide bond, and an imide bond.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the polymer material comprises any of a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, an acrylic resin, a fluorine resin, a silicone resin, alkyl silicate, acrylic silicate, an acrylic styrene resin, a styrene resin, a melamine resin, a polyamide resin, and a polyimide resin, or a composite thereof.

15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein an ultraviolet absorber or a light stabilizer is added to each sheet of the plurality of sheets.

16 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising an adhesive layer on a first surface of the first sheet of the plurality of sheets, wherein the first surface is opposite a second surface on which the coating film layer is provided.

17 . A coating film evaluation method for evaluating a decrease in thickness of a coating film, the method comprising:

installing a coating film evaluation structure in a vicinity of a structure on which the coating film is provided, wherein the coating film evaluation structure comprises:

a laminate comprising a plurality of sheets laminated together, wherein areas of each of the sheets in the laminate become smaller along a lamination direction and a stepped portion is provided at an end portion of the laminate, wherein the coating film and each of the sheets have different colors, and wherein each of the sheets has a known thickness;

a coating film layer on a first surface of a first sheet of the plurality of sheets having a largest area among the plurality of sheets, the coating film layer covering remaining sheets of the plurality of sheets, wherein the coating film layer has a flat surface and comprises a same material as the coating film; and

an adhesive layer on a second surface of the first sheet of the plurality of sheets, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface; and

evaluating an exposed state of the plurality of sheets due to a decrease in a thickness of the coating film layer by checking colors of the plurality of sheets after installing the coating film evaluation structure.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 7, 2025
From: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AN D TELEPHONE CORPORATION
To: NTT, INC.
Reel/Frame 073015/0325 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2023
From: ISHII, AZUSA; MINETA, SHINGO; OKA, SOICHI
To: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063878/0886 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240102797A1 · Mar 28, 2024
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