Powder coating is a technique for painting metal parts, different from traditional painting methods. It’s a free-flowing dry finishing process that uses thermoplastic or thermoset powder material instead of a liquid suspension. Once applied to a surface, it cures, dries within a short time, and hardens, forming a protective coating.
Minnesota Industrial Coatings uses the powder coating method in metal finishing because of its many advantages. Keep reading to learn more about the top 7 benefits of powder coating, and then contact us for all your finishing needs.
1. Durability
One benefit of powder coating is that it provides a more durable finish. It makes the metal more resistant to wear and tear despite its application. The finish is resistant to fading, chipping, wearing, and scratching. This characteristic makes powder coating an excellent option for metal parts exposed to sunlight and other environmental factors.
One of the concerns with paint is that it fades easily. However, powder coating slows down the fading process and keeps metal parts looking good for years. The UV-resistant powder coating type does an excellent job of protecting the appearance of metal products for an extended time.
The powder coating is also resistant to corrosion, protecting the metal underneath from rust and damage. This makes it ideal for coating metal parts exposed to outdoor air and moisture. The powder’s ability to resist the effects of rust is a popular feature, especially in high-risk areas.
2. Environmental Impact
Pollution is a significant concern in all areas of manufacturing. With contemporary social and legal issues concerning ecological awareness, there’s a greater need for pollution control. Manufacturers must file for permits and observe strict environmental regulations on the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) they emit into the atmosphere.
Powder coating is a viable alternative to the air pollution control equipment that manufacturers need for other processes. It also facilitates compliance with environmental restrictions and regulations.
Powder coatings, unlike liquid coatings, don’t require solvents to maintain the coating suspension. These solvents contain harmful VOCs detrimental to the environment. Another benefit of powder coating is less carbon dioxide emission and no need to use a primer before applying the coating.
3. Maintenance
Powder coating doesn’t require a lot of maintenance effort. It also doesn’t require special cleaners or solvents. Powder coatings are resistant to damage and corrosion, and they pose no concern for damage related to cleaning agents. In most cases, it only requires an occasional wipe with soapy water to remove light dirt and keep the parts functional for years.
4. Time and Money Savings
Another benefit of powder coating is that it provides money and time savings. The process of applying the coating takes less time compared to other finishing processes. It requires much less manual labor and doesn’t have to wait to dry, allowing the entire process to happen at once.
Once the coating is applied, it cures immediately and is ready for use. The quick application process allows manufacturers to handle many parts and surfaces in a short time while reducing labor costs.
Additionally, powder bases have a long shelf life. You can store them for future use without frequent obsoleting of inventory, eliminating extra costs. The process also requires less equipment and fewer raw materials, lowering the overall production costs.
5. Material Utilization
Nearly all coating material goes into good use in powder coating applications. All the uncontaminated and undamaged powder overspray can be recollected and recycled for future coating applications. In contrast, liquid coatings waste a lot of materials, with the over-sprayed coating materials getting lost.
Powder coatings don’t contain solvents. The material doesn’t get lost in the atmosphere during applications. It allows for a material utilization rate of close to 100%.
6. Shorter Curing and Drying Process
Powder coatings take a shorter time to cure, process, and dry than liquid coatings. Upon application, they take an average of ten minutes to cure fully. Once cool enough to handle, the parts are ready for packaging and shipping.
On the contrary, liquid coatings require several hours without heat. When used with heat, they require about 45 to 60 minutes to cure for assembly operations. Once assembled, the parts must dry overnight before packaging for shipment.
The parts also require less air exchange within the spray booth and curing oven as they don’t contain solvents or VOCs. The air is safe for recycling, filtering, and exhausting in the workshop. This benefit saves on energy usage and overall curing and drying costs.
Powder coatings reduce the production time and the number of parts left in staging areas for assembly, packaging, or shipping.
7. Specialty Coatings
The versatility of powder coatings is such that it’s easy to apply them on various metal and non-metal materials with varying thicknesses, textures, finishes, and colors. The final results may not be possible with other coating methods.
It’s easy to produce powder coatings in much greater thickness than possible with liquid coatings without dripping, running, or sagging. The coatings consist of solid coating material, while liquid ones contain a lower percentage. That’s why it’s easy to create a coating or specific thickness with fewer powder passes.
Take Advantage of the Benefits
It’s easy to see why powder coating is a lot better than conventional paint coatings in many areas. With the proper equipment and the right procedure, powder coating improves quality, decreases finishing time, provides many finishing options, and is eco-friendly.
Request an estimate from Minnesota Industrial Coatings when you are ready to put these advantages to good use on your next project.
