What is Powder Coating?

Powder coating is the technique of applying dry paint to a part. Thus giving the process the
name of powder coating. This can be done on any metal surface that is able to withstand heat
temperatures of over 350'F. The product must be able to withstand the heat because the part
or product must be placed in an oven so the powder particles are able to melt and come
together to form a continuous film on the part.

A powder coat may be applied to a product in two different application processes. The first
process consists of lowering the product to be coated in to a fluidized bed of powder which
may not be electrostatically charged. The second application process is spraying powdered
paint that is electrostatically charged on to the part.

After the product is coated it is then placed in the high temperature oven so the particles
can cure. The end result will be a hard coat on the surface of the product that will be able
to withstand more high temperatures through out the life of the product.

There are two types of powder available for use on different products, these are thermoplastic
and thermosetting. Thermoplastic powders may melt when reheated. Thermosetting powders will
not remelt when reheated because of the reaction each chemical has with the other chemicals
during the first curing stage.

There are many steps that each product must endure before they can be coated, this is because
preparation is key for a good turn out on any product. Just think of it as you are preparing
your car for a car show, you want it to look clean and free of imperfections. Therefore, this
is the most critical step in the powder coating process, if the product is not prepared
correctly, the product will not hold the coating, therefore it will be a waste of time and money.

Different surfaces require different preparations steps, these steps are generally the same
with some differences. For example, the steps for aluminum treatment are clean, rinse, etch,
rinse, chromate or phosphate (this depends on the aluminum surface), rinse, and finally demin
rinse.

If the surface is an interior steel the steps are as follows, clean, rinse, de-rust, rinse, iron
phosphate, rinse, acidulated rinse. However if the steel is exterior, the steps are clean,
rinse, etch, rinse, grain refine, zinc phosphate, rinse, acidulated rinse. Although the step are
similar, each surface has a different preparation process.

The grain refiner is used on steel surfaces after acid cleaning and before the zinc phosphate. If
this is done differently, the zinc coating produced will have little adhesion and be very coarse.
If a powder is applied to a coarse phosphate the result will be low adhesion and a rough surface.

After the product has been prepared to be sprayed, the customer may choose to have a color added
to the product. The color must be added before the product is sprayed with the powder. Once the
product is covered with the powder coating, there is little that can be done to change the color.
The color options are endless, you may want to have the product be black in color or even pink,
if this is what you want, it can be done.

Once the product has been coated with the powder and the color of your choice, you are ready for
pick up and installation. The product you have had coated may be going on your car, motorcycle,
or even your airplane, whatever the case, enjoy your new product.

Article Source: http://www.cursebustersound.com/article

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