Importance Of Consistency With Powder Coating

Liquid coatings or powder coatings? So, what’s the best surface finish for your architectural components, mechanical parts, and metal fabricated products? Why choose powder coating finishes over liquid coatings? Liquid coatings and paint are a time tested and traditional approach which can present various limitations. Powder coating, on the other hand, is a great optional approach in many cases that can be considered. Powder can provide improved durability, a reduced environmental impact, and a potential opportunity for a higher quality appearance.

What Is Powder Coating?

Powder coating is a dry coating process used as a metal surface finish, like what you typically find on industrial equipment. The powder coating is applied as dry powder through an electrostatic process, and then the application is cured with heat. Powder coating finishes provide a sturdy but flexible protective layer over the surface. In addition to metal surfacing, power coating can be applied over different surfaces, including concrete, various steel substrates, and plastic. Importantly powder coating is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications, and can be one of the most potential cost-effective finish options.

What Are The Types Of Powder Coating?

There are two types of powder coating, thermoplastics and thermosets, thermoplastic powder coating finishes will convert to a liquid-like and very soft material state when heated. This conversion eliminates chemical bonding and makes the process of powder coating both reversible and reusable, which is a great benefit over liquid coatings. Thermoplastic powder coatings tend to be thicker, and hence more durable compared to thermoset coatings. For this reason, they can be used for a wide-range of applications, from metal fabrication components, auto parts, and even refrigerators. An important aspect of thermoset coatings that makes it unique is the fact that it forms chemical bonds once cured, making it impossible to recycle and reuse. It is very suitable for high heat areas as the chemical bonds as it converts will prevent it from melting away. This use of thermoset coatings offers a much lower production investment as compared to thermoplastic powder coating.

What Lifecycle Can Powder Coating Provide?

The lifecycle of a powder coated product will highly depend on several factors. These factors include the quality of preparation, type of powder coating used, and the environment in which the product is exposed. Powder coating finishes are capable of lasting up to 20 years, factors that can reduce useful protection are directly related to the consistent use of the product, wear-n-tear, exposure to UV light, and external environments will greatly impact the protective lifecycle. Different coatings also have varying lifespans. For instance, coatings that have fluoropolymers and urethanes can last longer. They are designed to withstand extreme conditions and are better suited for outdoor products. Epoxy coatings, on the other hand, may last very long indoors, but once exposed to the outdoors, they will be greatly negatively impacted by UV light exposure.

Final Thoughts On Powder Coatings

Powder coatings are continuing to grow in popularity and application of powder coatings is increasing. When powder coatings are an option, it can provide an easier to apply advantage over liquid coatings, additionally it has potential to last longer, require less maintenance, and allow a safer application for workers and the environment.

Please plan on joining my Special Guest, Mario Quiceno and I on an all-new Coatings Talk Audio LIVE Chat session on LinkedIn Audio this Wednesday, April 26th starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Just follow this LINK to set your attendance, auto-schedule your calendar, or just receive a notification from LinkedIn once Mario and I launch the LIVE chat session.

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