Everything You Need to Know About Powder Coating

Powder coating can be used on a variety of items, including vehicles, machinery and household goods. Powder coating offers a durable finish to protect products from damage. Here is everything you need to know about powder coating, including the process of powder coating and why you should use it.

What does powder coating include?

Powder coating is where a paint is applied to an item in a powdered form. This paint may be a binder and then a liquid colour can be applied, but if it is a solvent-free paint, the paint is a binder with a pigment mixed in. Powder coating can be done in three phases.

The first stage is to prepare the item that is to be coated. This includes removing oil, dirt and grease so that the item is clean. Then the item is stripped to remove any existing coatings. It is then sandblasted. This allows the base material of the item to be exposed and it also provides a texture that the powder coating will stick to. The item will then be cleaned again.

The second step is to apply the powder coating. This can be done by electrostatic spraying or a fluidised bed. Electrostatic spraying is where the powder is sprayed using a specific spray gun which uses an electrostatic charge. This allows the powder to attach to the item. In the fluidised bed method, the item is heated and surrounded by a fluid powder. The heat melts the powder, which sticks to the item.

The last stage is curing. Curing occurs through baking the item that causes the powder coat to become a liquid, which creates a film over the item. This means the coating is evenly spread over the item. Further curing may be needed depending on the type of powder that was used.

What are the benefits of powder coating?

Powder coating can be applied to many different materials, including glass, MDF, wood, metal and plastic. Furthermore, powder coating prevents chips, scratches, fading and wear which other finishes may not protect from. Additionally, if a solvent-free powder was used, it can be recycled, which reduces waste.

Items can be transformed into a variety of colours using powder coating. There are also different finishes that can be used, such as gloss, matt and glitter. Powder coatings also tend to maintain their colour for longer than other forms of coating. This means that powder coating is a great option for the long-term protection and improvement of goods.


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