Looking for Powder Coating in Edmonton, Alberta?
Contact us to find out why we provide the best powder coating Edmonton has to offer!
Why Powder Coating?
Powder coating is a type of coating that uses a dry powder rather than a traditional liquid paint. The benefit of using powder coating is that it creates a tougher finish and does not require the use of a binding solvent. The powder coating is used mainly for metals ranging from household appliances to automobiles and industry machinery. An additional benefit is that the process is also more environmentally friendly than liquid coating alternatives.
The Powder Coating Process
The item that will be coated is prepared and pre-treated. This includes the removal of dirt, grease, and any other substances on the item. The item is then sprayed with phosphates or chromates to further clean and improve the bonding of the soon-to-be-added dry powder. The dry powder is then applied electrostatically, with the use of an electrostatic gun. Once everything is set, the powder is then cured with heat. The powder coatings cure at a temperature of 200 °C (390 °F). As the temperature rises, the powder melts. If the thermosets method is used, the melted powder reacts with the polymer, creating a network-like structure. The item is cured for about 10 minutes.
Types of Powder Coating
Powder coatings come in two varieties, thermosets and thermoplastics polymer. Thermosets uses a cross-linker so when the powder is baked, it reacts with other components in the powder to polymerize. The polymerization process improves the performance of the coating. Thermoplastics powder coating follows the same procedure as thermosets apart from the additional baking process where it does not add any additional substances.
Benefits of Powder Coating
The benefits of dry powder coatings include:
- Thicker coatings may be applied, due to being a liquid free method.
- No solvents are used and fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are produced than liquid alternatives. It is much more safe for the environment!
- Fewer appearance differences between horizontal and vertical coatings. A smoother finish will be created as a result.
- Multiple colored powders may be used at once before curing into a single layer. This means blendings are available and special effects that aren’t possible with alternatives are possible with powder coatings.
To learn more about the different types of High-Performance Coatings we offer, click here. If you have any questions about Powder Coatings or are interested in our services contact us by emailing [email protected] or calling 780-483-8861.