The Process

What is Powder Coating?

Powder coating is a dry finishing method that has become hugely popular since its introduction in America in the 1960s. It now serves over 15% of the manufacturing finishing market and is used on an extremely wide array of items. More and more businesses are shifting to powder coating because of its high-quality, durable finish, maximised production, improved efficiencies and low environmental impact. Used for both embellishing and practical finishes, powder coatings variety of colours, textures and technological advancements have resulted in flawlessly performing items.

How Powder Coating Works

The Powder

Powder coatings are comprised of polymer resin systems, combined with curatives, pigments, levelling agents, flow moderators and other additives. These are mixed, cooled, and ground into a fine powder with a similar texture to flour.

Pre Application

Before an item can undergo the powder application it must first be treated to remove any debris and rust on the surface. At Finishing First UK Ltd, we use a phosphate wash, this effectively removes anything from the exterior whilst neutralising the PH and priming the metal for the powder.

The Application

A process called electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) is used to adhere the powder to the metal substrate. This uses a spray gun, which applies an electrostatic charge to the powder particles, which are then attracted to the grounded surface of the metal.

Curing

Once the powder has been applied, the item then undergoes the curing process. This is where the addition of heat causes the coating to ‘melt’ and chemically react to produce long molecular chains, resulting in high cross-link density. These chains are resistant to breakdown, which is what makes powder coated products so durable.

The Benefits of Powder Coating

Compared to traditional wet paint methods, powder coating can offer incredible benefits for the item:

Durable

Powder coating is resistant to chips, dings, corrosion and abrasions.

Versatile Applications

Can withstand extreme weather conditions and harsh environments and is used in a wide variety of industries.

Environmentally Friendly

Powder coating releases less hazardous waste and harmful gases (VOCs) into the atmosphere, and with our state of the art paint recycling feature, the paint overflow is reduced and our waste is drastically minimised.

Time Efficient

Without having to wait days for the paint to dry, items that are powder coated are ready to go immediately after the curing process.

To find out more about how we use this process to provide clients with exceptionally high-quality finished items, contact our team here.