What is Powdercoating

Powder coating is a polyester-based coating method that uses consistently sized, dry polyester microbeads. The beads have an electrostatic charge that enables them to adhere to base materials. Powder coating creates a stronger, more durable and more resilient finish than paint and is useful on products that will need to stand up to harsh weather conditions or provide years of quality use.

Applying powder coating works via a different process from the one used to apply paint and other coatings. Most coatings go on as liquids because their liquid forms are more adhesive than their dry forms. Liquid paint, for instance, goes on as an evaporating solvent.

In the powder coating process, manufacturers typically apply dry powder electrostatically with a spray gun and then cure it in a curing oven or beneath ultraviolet light, giving it exceptional durability and resistance. The curing process also allows manufacturers to apply powder coating to various materials beyond traditional metals, including carbon fiber, composites, fiberboard and plastics.

Most powder coating materials take one of two forms:

• Thermoplastics: Thermoplastics, such as nylon and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), can go through heating, molding and curing more than once. They are easy to alter post-curing, and their coats are easy to remove. They are also ductile and chemically resistant.
• Thermosets: Thermosets, including epoxy resins and phenolic resins, can go through curing only once. Once cured, though, they have greater heat resistance and are more suitable for high-temperature applications.