FRACTURE DETECTION COATING SYSTEM

摘要

A method for monitoring a structure (10) for the formation of cracks (18) includes first pretreating a surface (14) of the structure by applying a first coating (30) to the structure which bonds uniformly to the surface of the structure and creates a uniform surface coat. A second coating (40) is applied over the first coating and contains microcapsules (44). The microcapsules rupture in response to cracking of the structure to release a dye or pigment which changes the color of the second coating about the crack. Cracked portions which form in the structure may then be identified by observing color changes (48) in the second coating resulting from eruption of the microcapsules.