Powder coating is a modern method of painting and protecting metal surfaces. Liquid coating containing powder particles is used in painting parts. Powder particles are deposited on the surface by electrostatic attraction. At high temperatures, fine particles melt and polymerize, forming a single high-quality coating.
The essence of powder coating method
Powder paint is sprayed onto the cleaned product. In the process of spraying, powder particles are electrically charged from an external source or frictional electrification. The particles are transferred by the electric field to the product to be painted, which has the opposite charge. The particles deposited on the product are contained in a single spray booth and can be used for re-spraying, which is not possible with conventional liquid paints. Furthermore, the powder-coated product is transferred to the polymerization chamber for “baking the paint.”
Main application processes
- painting any metal components for products;
- painting finished steel products that withstand heat up to 200 degrees Celsius;
- painting ceramics and wall stones;
- painting MDF (medium density fiberboard), glass;
The list of products that can be powder-coated is quite wide. There are industries where the rate of powder coating consumption is growing particularly rapidly. Examples include the coating of the inner surface of pipes for oil wells and pumping oil, operating in conditions where factors such as high pressure, high temperatures and the presence of corrosive environment (with rare exceptions) can have a destructive effect on almost all coatings.
The main advantages of powder coating
Powder coating protects the surface well. The paint lies in a dense layer, 35–250 microns thick; the number of pores is less. One layer replaces 2-3 layers of ordinary paint. Smooth, durable coating film does not scratch, is not damaged during transportation.
Performance technology allows collecting air-sprayed paint for use. The loss of the powder dye composition is minimized, amounting to 1-4% of the total mass. The process of painting metals is simple, easy, does not require a large number of workers. These factors reduce the painting cost per square meter.
Corrosion of the powder-painted metal is excluded. Metal products do not fade under sunlight; color and coating quality does not change in any weather conditions. A diverse palette has many shades, reproducing the complex texture of bronze, granite and silver. Gloss ranges from matte to gloss.
