Understanding Powder Coating: When to Use and When to Avoid+ View more
Understanding Powder Coating: When to Use and When to Avoid
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Date：2024-08-30 11:00
In the domain of surface finishing, nothing equals powder coating in the multitude of benefits it offers. To achieve the high-quality results it routinely delivers, the process is set into place using several basic steps. A part is prepared and then sprayed with an even coating of a plastic powder. The primary pigment used usually derives from a metal oxide; for example, a powder that is predominantly aluminum oxide would produce a part that is finished to a light metal sheen.
When should you choose powder coating? First, if you need a finish that is strong and enduring, powder coating's finish is superior to the traditional paint type. Most importantly, they are highly durable and long-lasting, showing a strong resistance to chipping, scratching, fading, and corrosion. If you are putting parts into service in harsh environmental conditions and they are way more likely to get beaten up than to look good while they serve their function, then powder coating is the good choice for you. Second, it is versatile. You can use it on a wide swath of materials from aluminum and steel to certain plastics and composites. You find it suitable in a number of industries from automotive to appliances, and furniture to outdoor equipment.
Third, if you require your parts to be different hues, powder coating allows for a nearly limitless color palette, broadening your aesthetic choices. Traditional coatings only approximate what you can achieve in powder coating. Fourth, if you're looking for an environmentally friendly surface finishing process. Powder coating is not only eco-friendly, but it also offers health benefits to humans. That's because powder coating uses no solvents or very few volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—nearly all VOCs are solvents—that can make you sick. Finally, if an even, drab-through finish is along your wish list of specifications, powder coating is a good way to go. It offers a uniform coating thickness that does not sag, run, or look uneven. To maintain a uniform thickness, you should avoid using organic solvents unless they are recommended by the powder manufacturer.
For large production runs, powder coating offers a cost-effective alternative to many other types of coat. The process exhibits strong efficiency; waste is kept to a bare minimum, and the overspray can be recycled. Powder coating also offers enhanced performance over many traditional types of coat in three important areas. First, it gives the parts a better look and feel, which is important for parts that won’t be seen or touched during the end use. Second, it makes the parts stronger in terms of their surface finish and mechanical properties, which is not an area that many types of coat can successfully address. Finally, powder coating does a better job of keeping the parts resistant to many chemicals and to heat, which is nice because quite possibly the surface of the part will be in contact with lots of different substances and/or exposed to a lot of heat.
Nonetheless, there are situations in which powder coating is not the most suitable choice. If you want a film that is very thin and if dimensional accuracy is paramount, for instance. Coatings that are not as thick as those typically used can result in more obvious texture, and this is one reason why achieving a very smooth surface with a coating that is less than about 1 mil thick is very challenging. Another reason has to do with the sawtooth-like texture that is present in many powder-coated surfaces, and that is why two-color powder-coated parts (like those on the taillight of the Porsche 911) have shadows and variations in light.
Third, certain base materials may not be able to take the high temperatures required for curing. Powder coating necessitates that the parts be able to withstand elevated temperatures during the curing process. If the parts cannot take the heat, then other coating methods might work better. Fourth, for small batch and one-off projects. The necessary setup equipment for powder coating can make it less viable economically when compared to some other options. Fifth, if you do not want your parts to be at all conductive. Insulating properties of cured powder coatings can make them good options for parts that shouldn't be conductive, but if you need your part to conduct electricity, then powder may not be the best answer.
Sixth, if you are looking for a surface finish with optimal UV resistance, powder coating may not be the best choice. Although it can be fade- and degradation-resistant, a UV-resistance test demonstrated that powder coating has an average performance that is not significantly better than some of the poorer-performing surface finishes. In outdoor applications where UV resistance is crucial, you may want to consider more specifically formulated outdoor surfaces.
When should you choose powder coating? First, if you need a finish that is strong and enduring, powder coating's finish is superior to the traditional paint type. Most importantly, they are highly durable and long-lasting, showing a strong resistance to chipping, scratching, fading, and corrosion. If you are putting parts into service in harsh environmental conditions and they are way more likely to get beaten up than to look good while they serve their function, then powder coating is the good choice for you. Second, it is versatile. You can use it on a wide swath of materials from aluminum and steel to certain plastics and composites. You find it suitable in a number of industries from automotive to appliances, and furniture to outdoor equipment.
Third, if you require your parts to be different hues, powder coating allows for a nearly limitless color palette, broadening your aesthetic choices. Traditional coatings only approximate what you can achieve in powder coating. Fourth, if you're looking for an environmentally friendly surface finishing process. Powder coating is not only eco-friendly, but it also offers health benefits to humans. That's because powder coating uses no solvents or very few volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—nearly all VOCs are solvents—that can make you sick. Finally, if an even, drab-through finish is along your wish list of specifications, powder coating is a good way to go. It offers a uniform coating thickness that does not sag, run, or look uneven. To maintain a uniform thickness, you should avoid using organic solvents unless they are recommended by the powder manufacturer.
For large production runs, powder coating offers a cost-effective alternative to many other types of coat. The process exhibits strong efficiency; waste is kept to a bare minimum, and the overspray can be recycled. Powder coating also offers enhanced performance over many traditional types of coat in three important areas. First, it gives the parts a better look and feel, which is important for parts that won’t be seen or touched during the end use. Second, it makes the parts stronger in terms of their surface finish and mechanical properties, which is not an area that many types of coat can successfully address. Finally, powder coating does a better job of keeping the parts resistant to many chemicals and to heat, which is nice because quite possibly the surface of the part will be in contact with lots of different substances and/or exposed to a lot of heat.
Nonetheless, there are situations in which powder coating is not the most suitable choice. If you want a film that is very thin and if dimensional accuracy is paramount, for instance. Coatings that are not as thick as those typically used can result in more obvious texture, and this is one reason why achieving a very smooth surface with a coating that is less than about 1 mil thick is very challenging. Another reason has to do with the sawtooth-like texture that is present in many powder-coated surfaces, and that is why two-color powder-coated parts (like those on the taillight of the Porsche 911) have shadows and variations in light.
Third, certain base materials may not be able to take the high temperatures required for curing. Powder coating necessitates that the parts be able to withstand elevated temperatures during the curing process. If the parts cannot take the heat, then other coating methods might work better. Fourth, for small batch and one-off projects. The necessary setup equipment for powder coating can make it less viable economically when compared to some other options. Fifth, if you do not want your parts to be at all conductive. Insulating properties of cured powder coatings can make them good options for parts that shouldn't be conductive, but if you need your part to conduct electricity, then powder may not be the best answer.
Sixth, if you are looking for a surface finish with optimal UV resistance, powder coating may not be the best choice. Although it can be fade- and degradation-resistant, a UV-resistance test demonstrated that powder coating has an average performance that is not significantly better than some of the poorer-performing surface finishes. In outdoor applications where UV resistance is crucial, you may want to consider more specifically formulated outdoor surfaces.
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