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The shipping industry is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which is why it is important to optimize every aspect of the efficiency of ocean-going vessels. This includes the antifouling paint that ensures hydrodynamic efficiency. Measuring the thickness of the antifouling on top of all other paint layers using THz cross-correlation spectroscopy (THz-CCS) underwater could enable vessel operators to monitor the state of the paint on ship hulls and plan any vessel's sailing route and maintenance optimally. However, due to the high absorption of water in the THz domain, measuring through any significant amount of water is impossible, making a water removal method necessary. This study shows how a THz-CCS system can be packaged for underwater measurements using a molded silicone contact seal. In combination with a spectroscopic model for data treatment, the thickness of a single paint layer is retrieved underwater. This paves the way for a more advanced system capable of measuring multilayer maritime paint underwater, which will enable shipping companies to continuously monitor the paint layers' thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In industrial paper production, online monitoring of a range of quality parameters is essential for ensuring that the performance and appearance of the final product is suitable for a given application. In this article, two optical sensing techniques are investigated for non-destructive, non-contact characterization of paper thickness, surface roughness, and production defects. The first technique is optical coherence tomography based on a mid-infrared supercontinuum laser, which can cover thicknesses from ~20–90 μm and provide information about the surface finish. Detection of subsurface voids, cuts, and oil contamination was also demonstrated. The second technique is terahertz time domain spectroscopy, which is used to measure paper thicknesses of up to 443 μm. A proof-of-concept thickness measurement in freely suspended paper was also demonstrated. These demonstrations highlight the added functionality and potential of tomographic optical sensing methods towards industrial non-contact quality monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]