Understanding the Process of Powder Coating

The surfaces of products are usually exposed to damaging elements in the surroundings. From heat to moisture, these elements can gradually infiltrate the product surfaces until they get damaged entirely. One reliable coating process that manufacturers have adopted and embraced is powder coating.

An Overview of Powder Coating

Generally, powder coating is the application of a durable and long-lasting finish to products and their components. This refined finish is intended to protect them from damaging elements and provide an appealing finish. Powder coating is known as the better alternative to liquid paint, which is a material that can be appealing but easy to chip off.

The powder coating process can be achieved by utilising a dry powder. This material is used to create a thicker coating than a single paint coat. It can likewise stay and stick onto the surfaces of products for a long time through an electrostatic charge.

The dry powder used for powder coating has ingredients that can generate the finish’s core, colour, flow modifiers, and curing elements.

Powder Coating’s Primary Steps

The process of powder coating can be achieved through numerous steps. These steps are as follows.

• Blasting: Blasting is the removal of inorganic contaminants like rust, laser scale, and welding dust out of a product surface. It is often done through abrasives. Once these inorganic contaminants are removed, the powder coating can stick effectively to the product surface.
• Pretreatment: The next step of powder coating is pretreatment. The pretreatment process is branched out into numerous stages. The first stage is to clean the organic liquid and dust contaminants out of the product surface by applying an alkaline cleaner. All the surface debris and cleaning chemical are then removed by rinsing the surface repeatedly. Once the surface is clean, iron phosphate is subsequently applied to allow powder coating to stick and improve corrosion resistance. After a few minutes, the product surface is then rinsed with reverse-osmosis water. Ultimately, a chrome-free zirconium sealer is applied to the surface.
• Primer: After the pretreatment stages, manufacturers may have the option to apply a primer to the surface. This substance can help the finish on surfaces last for a long time. It can be utilised for products made from aluminium or steel.
• Masking: Masking intends to cover and block off surface areas that do not require powder coating. It ensures that threads or machined areas will be clean.
• Coating: Coating, consequently, is conducted to apply the dry powder to the product surface. It can be conducted through an automatic system or a professional finisher.
• Curing: Ultimately, curing is done to melt the applied dry powder and convert it into a durable and long-lasting surface coating. Conducting the curing process at the right temperature and timing can ensure that the coating can last for a long time.

Once the curing is done, the coating of the product must be cooled first before packing and shipping it. To know more about the powder coating process, you must call us at Epac Productions.

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