Production > Powder

  Most powder paint is an interrupted catalyzation process, where by the manufacturer mixes a solvent free resin compound, colorant & catalyst. Before cross linking (curing) is complete, the batch is frozen & ground fine. It is then boxed & shipped to applicators such as STEEL COATINGS.

STEEL COATINGS applies the powder to a prepared metal surface, after which the coated object is inserted into an oven, for about 10 minuets, where the powder paint film melts, flows and cures (polymerizes). Almost all of STEEL COATINGS applied powder is cured between 350 F & 450 F. It can be deduced, from the foregoing, that powder paint is thermally reactive; temperature plays a major role in the shelf life & curing of powder paint.

Several processes, are available, for transferring powder from its shipping container to the surface to be painted. These processes can be extremely technical, require a high level of skill and are somewhat proprietary.

Most cured powder film thickness ranges between 1.0 to 2.0 mils and is typically applied in one coat. Special processes and techniques allow powder to be applied in excess of 15.0 mils and in more than one coat.

Some of the advantages of powder include:
  • A dense cured paint film because materials are 100% solvent free.
  • Reliable quality & color because paint is received from the supplier in a ready-to-use state, minimizing set-up time and eliminating shop mixing variations.
  • Very consistent film thickness because electrostatically applied powder becomes self insulating at about 2.0 mils and excess powder simply falls away.
  • Extremely uniform surface color and gloss with out over spray texturing.
  • Comparable, applied powder cost to applied liquid coating cost, in small quantities. Large quantities of items can be coated more efficiently with powder than liquid.
  • Shortened turn-around because once the oven held part reaches a prescribed temperature for the prescribed minuets the object is ready for use as soon as it has cooled.

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