Systems and methods for inspecting coatings, surfaces and interfaces

A method for detecting defects in coatings comprising the steps of:

• a) applying a first coating to a surface;
• b) modifying the temperature of the surface and coating;
• c) creating a thermal profile for said surface and said first coating by measuring a temperature parameter at each of a plurality of localized areas;
• d) for each localized areas, calculating a change parameter for the particular localized area by comparing the temperature parameter for the particular localized area to at least one value corresponding to the temperature parameters of localized areas surrounding the particular localized area, wherein the surrounding localized areas correspond to less than the entire thermal profile such that the at least one value changes dependent upon the particular localized area;
• and
• e) locating at least one defect by identifying at least one change parameter deviating from an acceptable level.