WHAT IS POWDER COATING?
Powder coating is an advanced method of applying a decorative
and protective finish to a wide range of materials and products
that are used by both industries and consumers. The powder used
for the process is a mixture of finely ground particles of pigment
and resin, which is sprayed onto a surface to be coated. The charged
powder particles adhere to the electrically grounded surfaces
until heated and fused into a smooth coating in a curing oven.
The result is a uniform, durable, high-quality, and attractive
finish.
WHERE I CAN USE A POWDER COATING
There are also innumerable everyday uses for powder coated products
such as lighting fixtures, antennas, and electrical components.
Farmers have powder coated tractors and farm equipment. Fitness
buffs use golf clubs and golf carts, ski poles and bindings, snowmobiles,
bicycles, and exercise equipment that are powder coated. Shop
owners have powder coated display racks, shelves, store fixtures,
and vending machines. Office workers use metal furniture, computer
cabinets, mechanical pencils and pens, thumbtacks, and other desk
accessories that are powder coated. Parents have powder coated
baby strollers, cribs, metal toys, and wagons. And home owners
have lawn mowers, snowblowers, barbecue grills, patio furniture,
garden tools, electronic components, bathroom scales, tool boxes,
and fire extinguishers which benefit from a powder coated finish.
While powder coating started as an alternative to finishing metal
products only, the development of powder that can be cured at
lower temperatures has allowed powder coating to expand to non-metal
surfaces such as ceramics and some wood and plastic applications.
Powder coating on wood is growing by leaps and bounds. Manufacturers
of home-office furniture, kitchen cabinets, children's furniture,
and outdoor grill tables are discovering that powder coating makes
these "hard use" products retain their new look much
longer.
The architectural and building market powder coats aluminum extrusions
used on frames for windows and doors and modular furniture. Many
highway and building projects use powder coating on light poles,
guard rails, signs, posts, and fencing.
The automotive industry uses powder coating on wheels, bumpers,
hubcaps, door handles, decorative trim and accent parts, truck
beds, radiators, filters, and numerous engine parts. A clean powder
topcoat has been developed to protect auto bodies. BMW and Volvo
are using it on their new model cars, and GM, Ford, and Chrysler
have formed a consortium to test this technique on their production
lines.