Impact testing is used to measure an objects, material, or coatings ability to resist high-rate loading, normally thought of as two objects colliding at high relative speed. A coating's ability to resist impact is one of the major determining factors in the service life of a part and/or it's suitability for an application. The ability to quantify this property is a great advantage in product liability and safety.

There are two methods primarily used to determine a material or objects resistance to impact. A weight with a punch attached falls on a coated metal sheet or a weight falls on to a punch which is resting on the coated metal sheet. In either test, the damage caused is observed and evaluated. These methods are used to identify how a coating performs under a rapid deformation process.