Why get a powder coating
When you decide for the best and most professional finish for your metal fabrication, you probably have choices if you will paint or use a powder coating.
Many would suggest going for powder coating for professional finishes. But why get a powder coating? In this blog, you will understand powder coatings and decide why get a powder coating for professional finishing. Without further ado, let’s get started.
Powder Coating Definition
It’s a process of dry coating used as a finishing on industrial equipment. It’s being applied as a dry powder through an electrostatic process, cured with heat. So, why get a powder coating? It’s because it provides high-quality finishes regarding functionality and the entire look.
It’s very flexible and sturdy as well. You may use it on surfaces such as concrete, metal, plastic, and steel. Best of all, powder coating can be used indoors and outdoors and known for being cost-effective.
Powder Coating Types
These are the types of powder coating.
* Thermoplastic
It’s a powder coating finish that tends to become soft and liquid when heated. It eliminated chemical bonding, making powder coating reusable and reversible. It’s thicker. That’s why it’s more durable than thermoset coatings.
* Thermoset
This powder is quite different as it forms chemical bonds when cured. It makes it impossible to reuse it. However, it’s suitable for high heat areas as the bonds would prevent it from melting. Furthermore, it’s cheaper than the thermoplastic coating.
How Long Does a Powder Coating Finish Last?
Some factors affect the longevity of the products. The factors include the preparation, powder coating type, and environment where the product is being exposed. The powder coating finish could last up to twenty years, yet because of being used all the time and UV light exposure, the outdoor environment may break faster.
The lifespans of the coatings are also different, like those with fluoropolymers, and urethanes may last longer. They are designed to hold on to extreme conditions and may suit well for outdoor products. On the other hand, epoxy coatings could stay long indoors. However, when it’s exposed outdoors, it could break down faster.
Advantages of Powder Coatings
If you are considering a powder coating finish, check out its benefits.
* Sturdy and Durable
Powder coating gives consumers, businesses, and industries an economical, long-lasting, and durable finish. It’s more resistant to scratches, wear, chipping, and fading, unlike other types of finishes.
What’s more interesting is that there is a range of color options available. This includes glossy, fluorescent, clear, candies, high-gloss, hammer-toned, glitter, iridescent, and wrinkle. The color remains bright and vibrant, and it stays longer than other finishes.
* Protects the Environment
Besides having an excellent finish, powder coating is also good for the environment. It’s not like the liquid coating finish that consists of solvents known to be pollutants of organic compounds that are volatile. Yet, powder coatings do not come with solvents, and they only release small amounts of organic compounds.
It’s safe to use, but you still need to wear protective gear even if it does not pose a health threat like other finishes.
* Affordable
Reducing waste will also save you money in the long run. With powder coating, your experience would seem significant while overwhelming to some. However, as time passes, the coat would be much lower than other types of finishes.
* Polished Look
You know it’s powder coating when it’s easy to achieve that polished look. Since it repels moisture, chemicals, and all other elements, it makes it easy to clean with this finish.
Powder Coating Downsides
Though powder coating is promising and comes with many advantages, you must also be aware of its downsides like:
* Hard to Get the Right Colors
While reusing and recycling a powder coating is a pro, it also leads to cross-contamination. It only means that colors don’t come as intended. It lowers the efficiency, making mismatched touch-ups occur.
* Hard to Control the Coating
Achieving the thickness can be quite challenging. The same is true in controlling its thickness. It could even make levels of thickness to be uneven, as it affects the entire texture. If the powder coating runs, then the process needs to be redone.
