Advantages of Powder Coating.

Introduction

Powder coating is an environmentally friendly coating that offers exceptional versatility and opportunities for both applicators' and end users to reduce costs and break into new markets.

Market analysis in recent years has shown steady and consistent growth in both market share of finishing processes and in terms of overall market value.

This steady increase was expected to continue, however the Coronavirus pandemic will undoubtedly at the very least slow the increase if not put it into a temporary decline.

Powder coating is a dry finishing process, there are no solvents involved. The powder is applied in it's dry state in several different ways which we will explore in this article.

The vast majority of components that are coated are metallic, coating of non-metallic parts such as glass and wood are on the increase however.

In this article we will cover the following:

Advantages of powder coating.

Advantages of Powder Coating

Environmentally Friendly
- Unlike other coatings such as paint, the powders used contain no solvents so there is a negligible if any at all, release of volatile organic compounds, more commonly known as VOC'S.
- Any powder spills can be easily cleaned up with simple and low cost equipment such as brushes and industrial vacuums.
- The ease in which spills or unused powder can be cleaned up negates the need for any expensive pollution control equipment, and all the maintenance issues that come along with it.
- The process of powder coating produces minimal waste. Assuming the spray booth is clean and well maintained, unused powder can be collected and re-used.

Cleaner Process Than Wet Paints
- With the ability to clean up and re-use the left of powder, the spray booth or coating bed area can be kept clean, whereas a wet paint booth will very quickly become messy as it isn't practical or cost effective to clean it to remove all the spilt paint before it dries.
- Equipment can also be cleaned relatively quickly and easily, and with the spray method, if cleaning is delayed for any reason, there is no risk to nozzles and lines being blocked.
- Cleaning can be done with soapy water, no specialist cleaning equipment or procedures are required. With wet paints however, the operator has to ensure cleaning is done in a timely manner to ensure the paint doesn't begin to harden.

Hazards to Operators are Reduced
- Although the operator will still require PPE, the risks to personnel compared to other processes are reduced, in no small part due to the near absence of VOC's.
- If the operator gets powder on their skin, it can be easily and quickly washed off with the use of warm water, whereas with wet paints, solvents and other specialist cleaning product may be required.
- There are normally no adverse effects from the powder coming into contact with skin. The main issues from contact are with allergic reaction's.

Durability
- A professionally applied powder coat provides immense long lasting benefits in terms of corrosion protection, appearance and overall durability.
- The coating will be resistant to wear, scratching, chipping and fading, meaning parts will look like new for longer.
- One area that powder coating excels in, is when it is used in vibrating parts. The semi flexible nature of the coating makes it an ideal choice.

Process Efficiency
- Only one coat of powder is required. There is no need to apply several coats and wait for each of these coats to dry. The component can either be sent straight to the oven or set aside to cool down depending on what method has been used. (some powders do however require a primer to be applied to the components first.
- Complex parts can be coated with the operator applying as much or as little powder required to ensure full coverage.
- Hidden faces, hollows, curves and angles can all be relatively easily coated. If a wet paint was being applied instead, the component may have to be made in several pieces to ensure proper coverage.
- When using an electrostatic method, if a mistake is made, it is easy to start again with minimal downtime.

High, Consistent Quality
- The melting of the powder coat results in a smooth, even finish. Thick coats do not increase the risk of dripping or runs, meaning that there is no additional finishing required once the coating has set.

Huge Variety of Powder Coatings Available
- There is very little, if any other coating type that provides the variety of choice that powder coating gives.
- Coatings can be virtually any colour, including clear. They can also be produced in matt, glossy, iridescent and fluorescent.
- If a smooth and even coating is not desired, the powder blend can be customised to provide textured finishes such as hammered. This is especially useful for hiding any imperfections in the component being coated.

Potential Cost Savings
- As mentioned previously, there is no need for specialist pollution control equipment such as air filtration as there is no solvent in the powder.
- The absence of solvent also means there is no need for powerful ventilation systems and equipment, saving maintenance costs and keeping heating costs to a minimum as there will be no constant loss of heat during coating application.
- Powders are relatively cheap when compared to specialist wet paints and are easy to store, taking up very little space.
- The efficiency of the process can help keep labour costs lows, both in low and high volume production scenarios. In addition, with the minimal amount of waste in the production in the process, it is very economical.

For our comprehensive article on powder coating, please click on the link below to find out more:

Powder Coating

Powder Coating Near Me

As we have seen, powder coating is a very versatile coating that can be used in many situations.

If you’re looking for to get parts powder coated in the United Kingdom, go through All About Precision.

We make finding the best engineering specialist for your needs easy! You can compare quotes, browse reviews, and more from our website.

The technical advice and recommendations made in this article should not be relied or acted upon without conducting your own further investigations, including corrosion exposure tests where needed. Please consult current editions of standards for design properties and liaise with coating application specialists. All About Precision assumes no liability in connection with the information in this article.