Powder coating is one of the most powerful and versatile finishing methods that can be used on metal components in modern manufacturing. Using different types of powder coatings, companies can create more high-quality, durable finishes quickly – and benefit from enhanced efficiency, better environmental compliance, and much more.
Whether used functionally to protect a component from the elements, or as a decorative finish on fixtures, appliances, and more, powder coatings are incredibly versatile. With a powder coating, you can finish a metal component with a nearly limitless range of textures and colors.
If you’re interested in learning more about powder coating, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll discuss the basics about powder coating – including what it is, how it works, and how using it is beneficial in manufacturing. Let’s get started now.
What is Powder Coating?
Powder coating is a method of applying a decorative and/or protective finish to almost any type of metal. It’s common both in industrial applications and for consumer products.
The way it works is simple. A very finely-ground mixture of resin and pigment (powder) is given a positive charge, and then sprayed onto a negatively-charged metal component, in a process called “electrostatic spraying.”
The powder particles are attracted to the metal, and bond with it tightly, providing a seamless finish. Then, the metal component is put into a special curing oven. Here, the powder will become heated and fuse together, creating a uniform, durable, and attractive finish.
This process is done in a completely dry environment, unlike painting, which makes it simpler to perform, and speeds up the metal finishing process dramatically – because there is no need to wait for the paint to dry.
Powder coating is often used to protect a metal component from the elements. Using powder coating on steel, for example, can help protect it from corrosion. However, powder coating is also often done for aesthetic reasons – to make a product look unique and attractive.
Thanks to its versatility, powder coating is one of the most quickly-growing finishing technologies in North America, and the market is anticipated to reach $18.32 billion USD by 2026.
What are the benefits?
The unique properties of powder coating provide it with a number of useful benefits, which make it ideal for a wide range of both industrial and consumer-facing applications.
- Durability: Powder coatings are highly-resistant to breakdown, and are bonded very tightly to the metal, thanks to the process of electrostatic spraying and the high heat of the curing oven. It’s also more flexible than traditional paint and can bend and flex without chipping. It also resists scratches, flaking, and corrosion.
- Color Matching: Using a powder coating, you can create aesthetically-pleasing components, and match a nearly limitless number of colors, based on the formulation of the powder coat.
- Improved Aesthetics: From mirror-like to matte, clear, glossy, satin, and textured finishes, and even bumpy, glittery, or wrinkled surfaces, there are a huge number of aesthetic options you can choose from with powder coating, which allows you to create visually-appealing, unique products.
- Environmentally Friendly: The powder used for powder coating is inert and free of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and other harmful chemicals which are often found in traditional paints and other such finishes. There is little overall waste from spraying – as unused spray can be recovered – and it’s easy to dispose of unused or waste powder coating materials.
- Budget-Friendly: Not only is powder coating good for the environment, but it’s also good for your budget. The powder is less expensive than paint and it’s easy to store, and you can easily purchase the raw materials for powder coating at a low cost. In addition, because it’s better for the environment, you can save on the cost of hazardous waste disposal, which is often one of the biggest expenses associated with finishing metal parts.
- Efficiency: Unlike with traditional painting, powder coat can be applied in a single coat, and there is no need to wait for a component to dry, or add multiple coats. A single, even spray is all that’s required. This maximizes efficiency and helps lower the overall cost of finishing your parts
- Overall quality and results: Powder coating creates a uniform finish with no possibility of dripping, running, unevenness, or other imperfections common with wet paint. This means it provides better overall quality – and will not have to be refinished or sanded due to mistakes or imperfections in the finishing process.
For these reasons – and quite a few more – powder coating is ideal for many metal finishing applications.
Is it a good fit for my project?
If you are looking to create high-quality, durable products, a powder coating may be a great choice for you. It balances speed and cost-effectiveness and can be used for finishes that are both functional and decorative.
The tremendous number of textures and colors available provides you with a huge number of options for finishing your products – and because it’s environmentally-friendly and affordable, it’s a great option for quality-conscious, budget-savvy companies.
While powder coating is not the perfect choice for all finishing applications, it is very versatile – so it could be right for you. Consult with a powder coating or metal finishing specialist near you to learn more!
Still have questions?
Powder coating may be a smart investment for companies that are looking to maximize the quality and performance of their products. It has a number of great advantages compared to traditional metal painting and other finishing methods, and it may be right for you!
If you have more questions and you would like to learn more about powder coating, or you have a product that you want to have powder-coated, the team at Engineered Mechanical Systems is here to help.
Contact us today, and we can discuss your needs in further detail, and help you understand if powder coating is right for your product. We look forward to hearing from you soon.