What Is a Surface Resistance Meter?
A surface resistance meter is a machine that measures the resistance of antistatic products. Various measurements are possible by using optional probes and stainless steel plates.
An object that is an insulator is always charged with static electricity, which causes deterioration, resulting in ground fault and electric shock. Therefore, by measuring surface resistance and insulation resistance, it is possible to predict the deterioration of the object over a long period.
Also, for materials such as water-based paints and concrete, which contain water and harden when the water is removed during drying, it is possible to measure how much water is contained in them.
Especially in the film forming process called “chocolate type,” in which water solvent volatilizes and forms a film, moisture control is a major issue, so it is used in the moisture control process.
Uses of Surface Resistance Meters
Surface resistance meters are used to measure the working environment, mainly for periodic inspections in clean rooms where electronic components are manufactured.
They can also be used for process control and quality control to measure the moisture content of a product’s surface using its resistance value and thus can be used to check the drying condition of paint or concrete.
Many portable types use probes to measure the resistance between two surface points by placing two probes on the surface or to measure the groundable junction resistance by placing one probe on the surface and touching the surface with the other probe.
Surface resistivity can also be measured by placing surface resistance meters on the surface without probes. In addition, volume resistivity can be measured by placing a stainless steel plate on an insulator plate and placing one probe on the stainless steel plate and the other on the object to be measured.
Principle of Surface Resistance Meters
The principle of the surface resistance meters is derived from an electric circuit, where the current value applied from the resistivity meter and flowing to the object is measured and calculated from the applied voltage and current amount, and the voltage between the probes is calculated from the current value flowing to the object, depending on the purpose of the measurement.
In addition, there are surface resistance meters that tentatively measure temperature and humidity, since the measured values may differ due to moisture in the air when the humidity in the air exceeds 60%.
Some surface resistance meters not only indicate resistance values but also indicate conductors, antistatic materials, or insulators so that they can be easily determined.
Also, surface resistivity can be measured by attaching a surface resistance meter to the surface without using a probe. Furthermore, the volume resistance can be measured by placing a stainless steel plate on the insulator plate and placing one probe on the stainless steel plate and the other on the object to be measured.