Powder Coating
Introduction
Thermo-setting powder coatings are now generally recognized as having a significant role in the metal finishing industries worldwide. Powder coatings have been a commercial reality now for close to thirty years. Powder coatings are used for the same key reasons as any surface finishing process:
- To protect the substrate they have been applied to
- To enhance the appearance of the item they have been applied to
- The key benefits of powder coatings are often summarized by the five E’s of powder coating:
- Ease of application
- Environmentally friendly
- Economical
- Excellence of Finish
- Excellence of performance
Other benefits include:
- The elimination to a large extent of solid waste disposal problems
- Solvent emissions are virtually eliminated, resulting in much easier compliance with EPA regulations
- Energy costs are greatly reduced and Volatile Organic Components easily controlled
- No solvents are required in mixing, cleaning, or maintenance
- Up to 99% of powder overspray can be recovered and reused. The 1% residual can easily be disposed of as a solid
For these reasons, there has been rapid growth in the coating industry.
Powder coatings are often used as alternatives to liquid paint finishing. In comparison with traditional liquid finishing, powder coatings offer two significant application benefits:
- They are single-coat finishes, with no primer required
- High film thickness can be achieved with a single coat
The powder coating application process is also readily automated, enabling high-volume industrial application plants to operate economically with a minimum of rejects.
These benefits have enabled powder coatings to take a significant share of the industrial finishing market.
Applications
Home Appliances
In the home appliance industry, powder coatings are well recognized as being a high quality finish for both major and minor applications. In the appliance finishing industry, the advantages of high corrosion resistance with single coat application has resulted in powder coatings being used on a wide variety of electrical appliances, including: air conditioners, clothes dryers, cookers, dishwashers, fans, freezers, microwave ovens, rice cookers, refrigerators, stereo components, television components, video components, washing machines, water coolers.
In addition to the major appliances noted powder coatings are also widely used for smaller appliances such as toasters, irons, can openers, juice extractors, food processors, vacuum cleaners and floor polishers.
Automotive Components
Although powder coatings are not yet widely used on auto bodies, they are finding growing applications on components for both interior and exterior applications. In most automotive applications, powder coatings are used for auto performance characteristics as most auto producers still prefer the use of liquid coatings for those areas requiring optimum appearance. Current applications in the automotive industry include:
air filter housing, alloy road wheels, brake calipers & components, bright trim molding, bumper bars, door handles engine blocks-iron & alloy, mirror housings, motorcycle frames, oil filter housings, rocker covers, seat frames, steel wheels assemblies, stereo system, components suspension systems, underbody primer, windscreen wipers.
Furniture
The furniture industry is a major market for powder coatings. Powder coatings are used extensively on both commercial and domestic furniture for both their performance and for their appearance.
The performance characteristics of powder coatings which make them so suited to the furniture industry include:
Toughness
Hardness
Corrosion Resistance
Architectural
Powder coatings have developed a strong position in the architectural industry as a coating for aluminum profile, cladding and other building components
Electrical and Electronic Industry
Computer casings, computer components, encapsulation, telecommunications equipment.
Metal Pre-Treatment
Metal Pre-treatment prior to powder coating is an essential step to ensure proper coating performance. Metal Pre-treatment prior to powder coating is of two types.
- Mechanical Surface Preparation
- Chemical Surface Preparation
For powder coating most commonly used surface preparation method is chemical pre-treatment. It is essential for an applicator to know the following:
- Need for Pre-treatment
- Surface Preparation
Need for Pre-treatment
The performance of powder coating on a metallic surface mainly depends on the Proper Pre-treatment of the substrate. Proper pre-treatment is an essential factor because of the following advantages:
- The pre-treatment process provides a clear, uniform, oil-grease-free surface
- Provides good adhesion of the film
- It forms an inert layer that inhibit the corrosion of the paint film
Surface Preparation
The general pre-treatment process for surface preparation follows the sequence below. Click on these links for more process details:
- De-Greasing Process
- First Water Rinse – Regular Water Rinse
- De-Rusting Process
- Second Water Rinse – Regular Water Rinse
- Activation Process
- Conversion Coatings
- Final Water Rinse – Regular Water Rinse
WHY CHOOSE US
Research and Development
Our research is a continuous on-going process to offer the best solutions to our important clientele. Out marketing team is always in contact with our customer to gather their requirements. They also study the application processes and their requirements. Our R & D works on these demands and finds the best and the most economical solution keeping a green environment in mind. Our R&D team lead by the top most authority in the organization, keeps abreast with the new global technologies. Orbit always endeavors to bring in new technologies.
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About Us
Since 1987, ORBIT COATINGS is a leading Powder Coating & Heat Resistant Paint Manufacturing Company in India, backed with fully equipped state-of-the-art plant and high performance imported machineries. ORBIT has set its mission to be -Total solutions in Powder Coatings. Read More!