Powder coating is a dry finishing powder that is used on metal extrusions, industrial metals, automotive metals, appliances, and other metal surfaces. Powder coating is pretty much like liquid paint but in powder form. It is as versatile as liquid paint and is available in a wide range of colors. It also makes use of a specialized powder coating machine to spray the powder on to the metal surface. But, you probably already know that. But, did you know that powder coating offers more advantages than the conventional painting process?
Advantages of Powder Coating
Some of the advantages of powder coating are:
- It is very cost-effective.
- The powder that was used can be recovered and re-used.
- Powder coating can last for many years.
- Powder coating is available in a wide range of colors and finishes.
- It is more eco-friendly as it does not emit any volatile organic compounds (VOC).
Common Uses of Powder Coating
Powder coating processes have become more advanced and sophisticated over the years. The range of its application grew as the technology behind it became more advanced. It has become the go-to finishing method of the manufacturing industry. Some of the items that are powder coated are:
- Appliances
- Outdoor furniture
- Farm equipment
- Street signs
- Fencing and poles
- Stadiums
- Building facades
- Car wheels
- Surface primers of cars
- Under-hood components of cars
- Motorbike frames
General items like fire extinguishers, electronics, and office supplies are also powder coated.
Powder Coating Application
The powder coating process involves shooting dry powder from a powder coating machine or electrostatic gun. The gun negatively charges the powder which gets attracted to the grounded part. This results in a fast and even application.
The coated piece will then be placed in a curing oven. Thermal bonds between powder particles are created by the curing process. The result is a smooth, hard finish
In many cases, powder coating may be a better choice than wet paint. However, before purchasing any equipment, make sure that you are buying from a trustworthy company that only sells high-quality powder coating equipment.
