Powder Coating
WHAT IS POWDER COATING
Powder coating is a dry finishing process introduced in the 1960s.
Companies are using powder coatings for a high-quality and durable finish now more than ever. Used for protective and decorative applications, powder coatings are available in an almost limitless range of colors and textures. In general terms, powder is sprayed with an electrostatic gun on a part and cured in an oven to form a new durable “skin.”
HOW IT WORKS
The actual powder coating powder is based on polymer resins, curatives, pigments, leveling agents, flow modifiers and other additives that have been mixed, melted, cooled and ground into a consistency like baking flour.
A spray gun, applying an electrostatic charge to the powder particles, sprays the grounded part.
Pre-treatment
The part to be coated is pre-treated before beginning; for surface preparation is the most important part in yielding a great finish. Sandblasting is often used to remove any old paint or corrosion for a clean and fresh surface. Often there are areas not to be powder coated. Tape and plugs are used to protect from coating those unpaintable areas.
Spray
A spray gun, applying an electrostatic charge to the powder particles, sprays the grounded part. Want to know what can be powder coated? Check out our Applications page.
Time to cure
The part is then placed in a curing oven; set at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time.
The heat of the oven causes the powder to chemically react and produce long molecular chains.
Finished Product
These molecular chains are tough to breakdown, creating a coating on the part that is nearly indestructible.
The finished product is ready for immediate use.