Powder coating has grown in popularity over the course of the last fifty years. It has become one of the most common methods used to finish automotive and other parts. Every day, more and more people are learning about the many benefits of powder coating over traditional liquid painting. While there are some drawbacks as well, advances in technology are making powder coating a viable alternative for many applications.

What is powder coating

Powder coating is a type of coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder and unlike conventional liquid paint which is delivered via an evaporating solvent, powder coating is typically applied electrostatically and then cured under heat or with ultraviolet light. The powder may be a thermoplastic or a thermoset polymer. It is usually used to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint. 

Powder coating is mainly used for coating of metals, such as household appliances, aluminium extrusions, drum hardware, automobile, motorcycle and bicycle parts. More advanced technologies allow other materials, such as plastics, composites, carbon-fiber, and MDF (medium-density fibreboard), to be powder coated using different methods that require less heat and time.

Before getting into the benefits of using powder coating, let’s explain to you, how powder coating works.  Powder coating is made up of resins, additives, and pigments and it is applied as a dry powder to the surface. Powder coating is applied using an electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) process. A free-floating, dry powder receives a positive electric charge and gets sprayed under pressure to the unfinished fabricated metal object that is grounded with a negative charge. This creates an electrochemical change where long-chain molecules from the powder attach to the metal and coat it.

Finishing of a surface is very crucial for the use of reactive metals like ductile iron and carbon steel. When these metals are left unprotected without proper finishing, exposed metals can tarnish and corrode. The uncoated parts fabricated from metal are weakened by ultraviolet light, eroded by salts and they can also be rusted by rain.

Benefit of using Powder coating for fabrication

Uniformity

Getting a uniform conventional painting is nearly impossible unless it has been applied by a professional painter working in a sterile environment. With powder coating, there are no runs, streaks or weak spots. There are no imperfections like bubbles, dust bumps or caught insects. Every surface of a powder coated product comes out smooth and perfect to the eye.

Durability

Powder coated surfaces are more resistant to scratching, fading, chipping and wearing than other finishes. Colors applied remain bright and vibrant for a longer period. This economical advantage gives consumers, businesses, and industries long lasting, and most color-durable quality finishes available on virtually any type of metal.

Appearance

Applying powder coating is much cleaner than applying wet paint.  A spray booth can be cleaned down quickly and easily using a rubber squeegee while the normal air extraction in the booth is operating.  Brushes or an air hose should not be used for this purpose.  Any spillages of powder outside the booth can be removed with an industrial vacuum cleaner which is fitted with an air-driven or dust-tight motor.

Corrosion Resistance

Rusting has always been a problem for metal fabricated products. Outdoor pieces get pounded by rain, snow, sleet and hail. Indoor products also suffer corrosion through high humidity and water exposure. Because powder coated equipment is so thoroughly and evenly covered, there is no opportunity for moisture to seep through to metal pores. Without question, corrosion resistance is a chief benefit gained by powder coating.

Processing time is reduced using powder

Powder coating process times are normally faster than when applying wet  paints since, as there is no solvent, no flash off period is required. Instead, the powder coated articles can pass directly into the oven.  This gives extensive saving in space and time.

Colour Variety

Powder coating colors come in a rainbow of selection. Colors can be premixed in the powder pigments by the supplier. That’s done in factory settings with computer-controlled mixing ratios. Carefully pre-mixed powders allow for perfect color distribution which is very difficult to achieve with wet paint products. Black and white are the two most popular powder coating color choices. However, every color in the spectrum is available in various color blends.

Ease to Paint Angles

Different objects can be powder coated, irrespective of their shape, size and complexity, if the product can take an electric charge, it can be powder coated. Irregularly shaped pieces with tight bends and hollow cavities are difficult to use wet paint on them. Comparing powder coating to paint or plating, there is no challenge in coloring every surface on complicated shapes with powder coating. This gives metal fabricators freedom to design and manufacture one-piece products and not have to paint parts separately for later assembly.

Consumer Recognition

Consumers recognize powder coating as a quality mark. To the discerning eye, powder coated surfaces stand right out compared to conventional wet painting. Powdered surfaces have a distinguished dry and even look that is unique to the powder coating process. That makes the statement of care and quality that equals value and satisfaction.

In conclusion, powder coating is safer to use because it does not contain any flammable solvent as we do have in the regular wet paint. VOC which is Volatile Organic Compounds found in some wet  paint and hot plating are not present in powder coating,  It doesn’t contain caustic, which could be harmful when it comes in contact with the skin. This makes powder coating very safe to use.

Epoxy oilserv Nigeria limited is the distributor and supplier of powder coating in Nigeria. Our powder coat gives consumers, businesses, and industries one of the most economical, longest lasting, and most color-durable quality finishes available on virtually any type of metal. Powder coated surfaces are more resistant to chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing than other finishes. Contact us