
Powder coating is an advanced method of applying a decorative and
protective finish to
a wide range of materials and products that are used by both industries
and consumers.
The powder used for the process is a mixture of finely ground particles
of pigment and
resin, which is sprayed onto a surface to be coated. The charged
powder particles adhere
to the electrically grounded surfaces until heated and fused into
a smooth coating in a
curing oven. The result is a uniform, durable, high-quality, and
attractive finish.
Click
here to choose one of our standard colors. Ask us about
any color you want, there will be a slight up-charge for these
colors.
More Durable Powder coating gives consumers, businesses, and industry
one of the most economical,
longest-lasting, and most color-durable quality finishes available.
Powder coated surfaces
are more resistant to chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing
than other finishes.
Automotive The automotive industry uses powder coating on wheels,
bumpers, hubcaps, door
handles, decorative trim and accent parts, truck beds, radiators,
filters, and numerous
engine parts. A clean powder topcoat has been developed to protect
auto bodies. BMW
and Volvo are using it on their new model cars, and GM, Ford,
and Chrysler have
formed a consortium to test this technique on their production
lines.
Architecture/Building
For 30 years, powder coating has been the
finish of choice for a superior, more colorful,
longer lasting and more durable finish. Powder coating is specified
because of its durability,
scratch resistance, gloss retention, weatherability, resistance
to chalking, the
unlimited range of colors, finishes, glosses and textures,
the fact that it meets AAMA
specifications and because it is an environmentally friendly
finishing process, making it
an important part of a sustainable or green building project
that incorporates low-emitting
products. Virtually any part and any product in your next
project might lend itself to
powder coating including metal, aluminum, composites, wood,
plastic, glass and ceramic.
Everyday Products
There are also innumerable everyday uses for
powder coated products such as lighting
fixtures, antennas, and electrical components. Farmers have powder
coated tractors and
farm equipment. Fitness buffs use golf clubs and golf carts,
ski poles and bindings,
snowmobiles, bicycles, and exercise equipment that are powder
coated. Shop owners
have powder coated display racks, shelves, store fixtures,
and vending machines. Office
workers use metal furniture, computer cabinets, mechanical
pencils and pens, thumbtacks,
and other desk accessories that are powder coated. Parents
have powder coated
baby strollers, cribs, metal toys, and wagons. And home owners
have lawn mowers,
snowblowers, barbecue grills, patio furniture, garden tools,
electronic components, bathroom
scales, tool boxes, and fire extinguishers which benefit from
a powder coated finish.
Non-Metal Products
While powder coating started as an alternative
to finishing metal products only, the
development of powder that can be cured at lower temperatures has
allowed powder
coating to expand to non-metal surfaces such as ceramics and some
wood and plastic
applications. Powder coating on wood is growing by leaps and bounds.
Manufacturers
of home-office furniture, kitchen cabinets, children's furniture,
and outdoor grill tables
are discovering that powder coating makes these "hard use" products
retain their new
look much longer.
Benefits of Powder Coating
Economy
- Up to 99 percent of powder overspray can be captured and recycled
- One-coat coverage without runs or sags
- Easy cleanup
- No solvents to mix or recover
- No viscosity balance to maintain
- No flash-off time requirements
- No need to provide heat booth make-up when air is returned to
work area
- Reject rate can be kept low because damaged coating can be blown
off and recoated
before heat cure
Excellence of Finish
Readily available resins can provide one or
a combination of desirable characteristics
including: durability, resilience, high gloss,
electrical insulation, toughness; and resistance
to wear, corrosion, impact, chemical action,
and weather. Powder manufacturers
now offer a complete range of colors plus excellent
color matching
Ease of Application
Consistent
finish characteristics and electrostatic "wrap-around" reduce
the need for
highly skilled operators. Process is easily
automated and can include automatic gun
movers and/or contouring mechanisms. Production
time can often be reduced, as one
coat will do the job.
Attributes of
powder coating include:
- It's tough.
- It's durable.
- It's scratch-resistant.
- It's long-lasting.
- It's attractive.
- It's colorful.
- It's high-quality.
- It's versatile.
- It's environmentally
friendly.
Click
here to choose one of our standard colors. Ask us about any color
you want,
there will be a slight up-charge
for these colors.
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