Techniques and advantages and disadvantages for obtaining a perfect powder coating finish

The powder coating method has been used since the early days of powder metallurgy and is becoming increasingly popular. Today, it is widely used in the industrial field because it has many advantages, including corrosion resistance, high-quality surface treatment, and long-term environmentally friendly effects.

So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of powder coatings? How to obtain a perfect powder coating surface treatment? This article will address your concerns about powder coatings.

Advantages and disadvantages of powder coating treatment

Powder coatings are far superior to traditional wet coatings in terms of protection and decoration. They provide a wide range of color choices and high-level surface treatments, but they also have some drawbacks. Please continue reading for more information.

Advantages of Powder Coatings

Durability

Durability is a key advantage of powder coating components, and most powder coating materials have characteristics of resistance to fading, cracking, scratching, and wear. Compared to spray painting, they have ideal physical strength, durable surface treatment, and environmental resistance.

Unlike traditional liquid coatings, they do not fade in open environments, which is why most automotive and aviation industries use this technology.

In addition, the problem of rust is very common for metal parts, and powder coatings provide amazing effects on metals. They not only prevent the upper surface of metal parts, but also prevent them from rusting for a long time. Compared to traditional coatings, rust prevention is the most famous characteristic of powder coatings.

High cost-effectiveness

Compared to liquid coatings, it is a more cost-effective choice. Although its initial purchase cost is relatively high, it only requires less energy to cure. In addition, powder coatings provide a more durable surface treatment than liquid coatings, which means that products using powder coatings will last longer.

High quality surface coating

The high-quality parts produced by powder coating treatment have clean surfaces and modern aesthetics, and the physical strength, wear resistance, and other properties of the products have been improved.

Environmentally friendly

Powder coating is an ideal environmentally friendly method because it does not contain various forms of harmful chemicals and solvents, as there are volatile organic compounds present. In addition, this powder is coated on the surface and then cured under heating. The excess powder will be recycled, so the waste generated by this process is very low.

Disadvantages of Powder Coatings

High initial cost

Due to the high cost of equipment and raw materials, the initial setup cost in the powder coating industry is somewhat high. However, compared to traditional paint over a considerable period of time, its cost is much lower because traditional paint deteriorates after 1 or 2 years, while powder paint can last for several years or more.

Powder cannot be mixed

In the case of wet paint, people can mix multiple colors to create a new color to achieve the desired effect, but this is not possible in powder coatings. Powders cannot be mixed, they must be used separately. However, there is a wide range of colors to choose from.

Thin coating

Powder coating is not ideal for thin coatings, as its operability is at least 40 to 60 microns. If you want to make a thinner coating than this, it is recommended to use wet coating to achieve better results.

Difficult to repair

Using wet coating for repair is simple, but using powder coating is different because if repair is required, the entire process must be completed, and therefore, one must be an expert in this mechanism.

5 tips for achieving a perfect powder coating finish

Powder coating is a sturdy and durable technology, with several techniques to ensure the perfect finish effect of your coating.

1. Prepare the surface

This is the most important step in obtaining a good powder coating surface. If the surface preparation is not sufficient, the powder will not adhere well to it and will not bring you the desired effect. Before starting powder spraying, ensure that the surface is polished smooth and free of any contaminants.

2. Choose the correct powder material

There are different types of powders used for different applications. Make sure to choose the correct powder coating material for your project. If you are unsure, please consult a professional powder coating treatment company like Wake Rapid Prototyping.

3. Avoid framing

When using powder coated finishes, picture frames are a common issue. This is caused by several factors, the most common being when too much powder is applied to the component, resulting in thicker film on the edges. Other reasons include aligning the spray gun directly at the edges of the component, or setting the spray gun too high.

In order to avoid the picture frame, pay attention to the dispersion of spray and spray gun when applying the powder. Try not to directly aim at the edges, and carefully observe the powder flow rate to adjust the spray gun settings.

4. Correct use of paint gun

If you are using a powder coating gun, please ensure that the size of the gun head matches the requirements of the job. A gun head that is too small can cause the powder to flow improperly and result in uneven coverage. Excessive nozzle size can lead to excessive spraying.

In addition, your powder coating gun should have the correct voltage setting. Excessive voltage can cause the powder to form beads that cannot adhere properly to the surface, while low voltage can lead to poor coverage.

5. Ensure that the powder is cured

Curing is the actual solidification of powder to achieve the final surface effect. Please ensure that the powder is cured according to the manufacturer's instructions. This step is usually completed in an oven at a specific temperature and time. After powder curing, you need to check the surface of the powder coating for any defects.