Triangle Leader in Commercial Powder Coating
Powder coating is a strong, high-quality coating technique trusted by manufacturers around the world. Its exceptional durability and consistency provide significant advantages compared to other types of coatings.
How Does It Work?
Paints and other finishes are usually applied in liquid or aerosolized form. The pigments in paint are carried by a solvent that is designed to evaporate upon drying, leaving only the color on the surface.
Powder coating uses no solvent; instead, the color particles are fired at the surface at high speed via a spray gun. Because there are no solvents, powder coating has no risk of running or dripping like paint, and produces a thick, consistent coat across any surface it’s applied to. The lack of solvent also means no fumes and no emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs), meaning it’s much more environmentally friendly.
Prepping for powder coating is a lot like conventional painting. It starts with a thorough cleaning to remove rust, oils, stains, and other contaminants, sometimes followed by light sanding. We then mask or plug any areas not to be coated.
The actual powder adheres to the surface thanks to electrostatic charge; the gun applies a negative charge to the particles, which then naturally attract to the grounded surface. The actual application looks a lot like painting with a spray gun, but unlike painting, powder coated surfaces are then heat-cured. The result is an ultra-durable, attractive finish that stands up to even the most demanding conditions.
What Can Be Powder-Coated?
Just about anything! Because of its electrostatically-based application, powder-coating is a natural fit for metals and other hard materials. The finish is extremely durable and heat-resistant, which is why you often see powder coating on wheels, brake calipers, and differentials in high-end sports cars and trucks.
But because of its even and attractive finish, powder coating is also popular for infrastructure and equipment: machines, patio furniture, railings, metal ornamentation, even roller coasters!
The only restriction for powder-coating is the heat-curing required, meaning it’s unsuitable for plastics, rubber, wood, or other materials that melt at high temperatures.