Application industries

Powder coating has applications in a variety of industries. Its corrosion protection, chemical resistance and aesthetic appeal make it an ideal finish for agricultural implements, vehicles and even medical equipment.

When you choose powder over liquid paint, your parts are coated with a layer that provides better protection. Color, sheen and texture make up the customizable elements of your chosen finish. However, businesses should start the coating process by choosing the type of powder that best fits their needs.

What is Powder Coating?

Powder coating is a dry finishing solution, created by an electric charge applied to dry powder on a composite’s surface. The electric charge causes the powder to fuse to the surface of a component, before the product is placed into a curing oven, ensuring a robust and even protective layer.

Compared to other finishing options, such as liquid paint, the powder coating process has a number of distinct benefits. The lack of a liquid carrier means a powder coating can produce thicker protective layers than conventional alternatives, without running or sagging.

Additionally, powder coating offers an excellent combination of aesthetic appeal and durability. Powder coats aren’t prone to chips and scratches, like liquid paint. They also offer an innate level of corrosion resistance, ideal for improving the longevity of metal products.

Additionally, the wide range of powder coating solutions available allow customers to access vibrant finishes in a range of colors, textures, and styles, to suit any purpose. While all types of powder coating can offer enhanced durability, corrosion resistance and versatility, different styles of powder have their own unique benefits and capabilities to consider.

Different Types of Powder Coating:

In the industrial landscape, solutions are constantly evolving. The right powder coating company will help you to choose the ideal type of powder for your specific situation. Here are some of the most common types of coatings available from powder coating specialists.

Epoxy Powder Coating:

Despite being one of the first powder coats commonly available, epoxy remains one of the most popular finishes. It’s an excellent choice for manufacturers in several industries. The reason for this popularity lies in the benefits of using epoxy. Advanced hardness and impressive resistance to chemicals and corrosion are just two factors that give epoxy its value.

Epoxy is durable. However, it is limited to indoor use. Exposure to UV rays will cause fading, chalking and other surface-level degradation.

Some of the industries that use epoxy powder coating are:

Medical equipment

Oil drilling

Natural gas production

Benefits of Epoxy Powder Coating

Choose an epoxy powder coat for several benefits, including:

Uniformity

Hardness

Strong adhesion with pretreatments

Polyester Powder Coating:

Polyester has less chemical resistance than other coating options. However, the powder is so weather-resistant that it’s common on products like fencing. The quality that makes polyester powder coatings stand out is their low cure temperature, which makes them ideal for more heat-sensitive items.

There are two types of polyester powder coatings — TGIC and urethane polyester. TGIC has a lower cure temperature than urethane polyester. The other constraint on polyester urethanes lies in its minimum thickness, because it can have a peeling effect on the coating.

Polyester powder coating has applications in the following industries:

Plumbing

Power transmission

Outdoor decorations and furniture

Benefits of Polyester Powder Coating

Using a polyester powder coat has several advantages, including:

Cost efficiency

Overbake resistance

Wide range of color choices

Super Durable Polyesters:

To address the limitations of standard polyester powder coatings, some organizations offer access to “super durable” alternatives. These options retain the vibrant color options of traditional polyester coatings, as well as their fantastic UV resistance. However, they’re also more effective at weathering exposure to harsh conditions.

Super durable polyester coatings appear frequently in building facades and signage, created for demanding outdoor environments. Though they offer a fantastic combination of longevity and aesthetic appeal, they can be more expensive than alternative coatings.

Epoxy-Polyester Hybrids:

For those looking to combine the benefits of multiple types of powder coating finishes, Epoxy-polyester hybrids can be an excellent choice. They offer the chemical resistance and durability of epoxies, combined with the visual versatility of polyesters.

It’s common to find epoxy-polyester hybrid coatings in office furniture and general industrial landscapes. These coatings are highly durable and versatile, but they may not offer the same protections as standalone epoxy coatings, or super-polyester alternatives.

Fluoropolymer Powder Coating:

Fluoropolymer powder coatings perform at peak levels in specific applications. One such application is its use in architectural markets. Fluoropolymers have incredible weathering properties. First, they have a high corrosion resistance. Fluoropolymer’s gloss and color retention are signs of its impressive durability. There are two common types of fluoropolymer powder coatings:

Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) resin: Using a PVDF fluoropolymer powder coat requires applying a primer first. Bonding for metallic coats is more difficult with PVDF resins.

Fluoroethylene vinyl ether (FEVE) resin: FEVE fluoropolymers are more popular because they create a full-coverage powder coat with one application. FEVE powders also perform better in exterior conditions. In metallic FEVE fluoropolymer powder coats, the metal flake is distributed more evenly.

Benefits of Fluoropolymer Powder Coating

Using a fluoropolymer powder coat has several benefits. These include:

UV stability for outdoor us

One-coat capability

Long-lasting color

Urethanes:

Urethane powder coatings offer an excellent balance between aesthetics and durability, making them suitable for a wide range of use cases. They’re often used on agricultural and construction equipment, combining protective layers with fantastic visual appeal.

Urethanes are resistant to chalking and fading, but they can lack the high level of chemical and corrosion resistance offered by other, sturdier coating options.

Polyurethane:

Polyurethane also contains resin and hardener, but unlike other polyester powder coatings, polyurethane provides chemical resistance. Polyurethane is highly resistant to moisture, salt spray, and abrasions; it tends to be used in the automobile industry for finishes, bathroom accessories and fittings, and garden products that require hard-wearing abrasion resistance.

Acrylic:

Acrylic is a hard transparent resin that is used in a wide range of applications. Acrylic is used predominantly in the automotive industry for topcoats, light covers, and windshields, but it is also used for lenses, paints, and LCD screens. Acrylic is a strong and durable powder. Unlike other powder coatings, it is produced in isolation to protect it from contamination from resins.

Advantages Of Powder Coating:

Durability

Powder coating benefits from excellent durability, one of the reasons it is used in the automotive industry and for agricultural vehicles. Powder-coated surfaces are highly resistant to chipping, scratching, fading, along with general wear and tear. Powder-coated surfaces are also unaffected by long-term sun exposure, so it makes the ideal coating for many outdoor surfaces.

Longevity

Other forms of paint and finishing tend to fade and deteriorate over time, but powder coating guarantees long-term quality. Choose the right powder coating for the surface, and you can expect the surface to look new for between ten and twenty years. It offers excellent value for money. However, powder-coated surfaces can still become dirty, dusty, and grimy over time.

Saves time and money

Powder coating offers excellent value for money. Conventional paint is expensive to buy, time-consuming to buy, and difficult to store long-term. On the other hand, powder coating is more affordable, can be applied and cured on the spot, so there is no drying time and fewer labour costs. Powder coating can also be stored long-term without losing any of its quality.

Environmentally friendly

Another advantage of using powder coating instead of conventional paints is the environmental considerations. Unlike conventional paints, powder coating doesn’t contain any solvents or environmentally harmful chemicals. The particles are applied directly to the metal and attach to it with an electrical charge rather than adhesives. It is long-lasting and is not contaminated.

Powder coating is environmentally friendly for a number of reasons. The main factor is that powder coating doesn’t contain any Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs linger in the air contaminating it and contributing to physical issues like sight loss and organ problems. Powder coating is also environmentally friendly due to the reasons stated; it contains no solvents and offers longevity.

In summary, powder coating is an effective, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly finish for metal surfaces. There are many types of powder coating out there, including epoxy, epoxy polyester and acrylic. Coatings are used in the automotive, agricultural, and construction industries.

Selecting the Best Powder Coating Type:

Choosing the right powder coating type for your specific needs can be complex, but it’s also crucial. The powder particle you choose will determine everything from the long-term durability and longevity of a finished product to its visual appeal.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The right powder coating for you will depend on factors like:

Substrate compatibility: Not all powder coatings are intended for every substrate. You’ll need to ensure your chosen coating is compatible with your component, to guarantee a high level of adherence, and a long-lasting result.

Environmental demands: Some powder coating types are more suitable for harsh, extreme, or outdoor environments than others. Considering where the component will be used or placed is crucial to ensuring you choose the correct coating.

Performance requirements: Different powder coatings have different qualities that can influence their performance. Some are resistant to UV light, ensuring colors don’t fade over time, others are excellent at resisting chemical or corrosive damage.

Aesthetic needs: While most powder coating solutions offer a range of finish options, some offer access to more vibrant long-lasting colors, or a wider range of textures. Consider your aesthetic preferences before making your choice.

Budget constraints: Though it’s important not to cut corners when choosing the right type of powder coating, every business will have a budget to consider. The stronger, and more versatile your choice of coating, the more you’re likely to pay.

With so much to consider, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. The easiest way to ensure you’re making the right choice, is to seek the guidance and help of a powder coating specialist. A company experienced in thermostatic powder coating options will help you to assess your needs, and make the right choice for your specific situation.

Service advantages About Moutainchem:

We know navigating the world of powder coating can be complex, particularly for beginners. Fortunately, the team at Powder Coating Services is here to ensure every business can make the right choice. We have years of experience completing commercial and industrial powder coating projects in a variety of industries, from the medical devices and agricultural landscape to the automotive sector.

Our expert team will work with you to assess the nature of your project, and guide you towards the best powder coating solution for your needs. We work hand-in-hand with our clients every step of the way, offering consistent support, and leading industry knowledge. What’s more, we even handle all aspects of the powder coating process, from prep-work, through to ongoing support.

Contact us today to discuss your powder coating project, and discover the solution best-suited to your business needs.

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