Visual Appearance Characteristics of Industrial Aluminium Surfaces

Abstract

An experimental study has been performed on the interrelationship between visual appearance, surface topography and light scattering on AA6063-T6 aluminium extrusions etched to a depth of up to 700 μm. The topography was characterized by use of White Light Interferometry (WLI), and light scattering was measured by use of a glossmeter and photogoniometer. The main parameters for the visual appearance evaluation were gloss, directionality, streakiness and homogeneity. This combined approach of visual assessment and measurements provides valuable insight into how measurable quantities relate to the perceived visual appearance for industrially relevant aluminium surfaces.