Over the past 60 years since its inception, powder coating has skyrocketed in popularity, now claiming more than 15% of the manufacturing finishing market. Its application potential is broad, from industrial machinery to household items. The surge in businesses adopting powder coating can be credited to its outstanding quality, durability, improved production efficiency, and minimal ecological impact. Here at UK Powder Coating Services we strive to provide a high quality powder coating service for a range of industries. In this blog we’ll explore further into our powder coating process.
Our Powder coating process consists of 4 main stages to ensure a top notch finish for every component.
Step 1: Powder Composition At the heart of our powder coating lies the unique blend of the powder itself. This mixture is composed of polymer resin, curatives, pigments, flow modifiers, and other additives. Before application these components are blended, cooled, and ground into a fine powder with a texture resembling flour.
Step 2: Pre-Application Preparation Before the application of powder coating begins, meticulous preparation of the item's surface is of high importance, including the removal of debris and rust with a phosphate wash. This step not only cleans the surface but also neutralises pH levels and primes the metal for the upcoming powder application.
Step 3: Application Phase Electrostatic Spray Deposition (ESD) takes the lead, utilising specialised spray guns. These guns apply an electrostatic charge to the powder particles, drawing them magnetically to the grounded metal surface. The outcome is a consistent and adhesive coating.
Step 4: Curing Process Heat is introduced, causing the powder coating to melt and initiate a chemical reaction. This reaction forms long molecular chains with heightened cross-link density. These chains exhibit remarkable resilience, contributing to the exceptional durability of powder-coated products.
Powder coating offers a range of advantages. It excels in durability compared to traditional paint methods, resisting chips, dings, corrosion, and abrasions. The versatility of powder-coated surfaces shines in extreme conditions across industrial and consumer fields. Beyond its durability, powder coating embodies environmental responsibility by minimising hazardous waste and VOC emissions, enhanced by cutting-edge paint recycling, while also streamlining production through immediate usability after curing.
To find out how we could fit your project needs with our powder coating services, get in touch with our team of experts on 01440 706281 or reach out via email at info@ukpowdercoatingservices.co.uk.