Desert Coating offers powder coating service including PFA coating services to individuals and businesses across the U.S. As a full-service powder coating company we work with a variety of manufacturers to ensure the most possible options available for your custom project. For more information, just ask!
Industrial Powder Coatings
Industrial powder coatings are coatings that are applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. Unlike liquid coatings which are applied in an evaporating solvent, powder coatings are typically applied electrostatically and then cured with heat or with ultraviolet light. The powder may be a thermoplastic or a thermoset polymer. It is usually used to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional coatings or paints.
Industrial powder coatings offer a highly scratch resistant finish applicable to a number of surfaces. They also provide a restorative solution to a wide range of surfaces commonly exposed to harsh environmental elements such as patio furniture, fencing, gates, automotive frames, and trailers.
Industrial powder coatings are used in architectural applications to combat against weather and wear on common surfaces, or to enhance architectural aesthetics, architectural powder coatings are used to improve both form and function. Because they are highly resistant to wear, chipping, scratches and fading, industrial powder coatings are ideal for motorsports, offering superior protecting in a range of colors and finishes. Industrial powder coatings are also the preferred choice form many decorative applications. They lend highly realistic detail without compromising look for longevity. Decorative powder coatings offer a unique alternative for wood and natural stone design elements. By replicating natural finishes, powder coatings can provide long-lasting, weather-resistant decorative finished with exceptional protection benefits.
Applications Include:
- Aluminum extrusions
- Architectural applications
- Automotive parts and frames
- Bicycle parts and frames
- Decorative applications
- Drum hardware
- Fencing
- Gates
- Household appliances
- Metals
- Motorcycle parts and frames
- Patio furniture
- Trailers
More advanced application technologies that require less heat and time allow powder coatings to be applied to other materials, including: plastics, composites, carbon fiber and MDF (medium-density fireboard).
Trade names include: 3M, AkozoNobel, Axalta, Cardinal, Forrest Technical Coatings, IFS coatings, PPG Prismatic Powders, Sherwin-Williams, TCI, and Vitracoat.
Types of Industrial Powder Coatings
There are three main categories of industrial powder coatings: thermosets, thermoplastics, and UV curable powder coatings. Thermoset powder coatings incorporate a cross-linker into the formulation. Most common cross-linkers are solid epoxy resins in so-called hybrid powders. When the powder is baked, it reacts with other chemical groups in the powder to polymerize, improving the performance properties. The most common polymers used are: polyester, polyurethane, polyester-epoxy, straight-epoxy and acrylics. For special applications like coil coatings or clear coats it is common to use glycidylesters as hardener component, their cross-linking is also based on the carboxy-epoxy chemistry.
Performance Properties of Industrial Powder Coatings
Because powder coating is not carried by a liquid, it can produce a thicker coat than liquid coatings without running or sagging. Powder coating also minimize the visual differences between surfaces that are coated vertically and horizontally. Because no carrier fluid evaporates, the coating process emits few volatile organic compounds (VOC). Finally, several powder colors can be applied before curing them all together, allowing color blending and bleeding in a single layer.
With powder coatings, it is easy to apply thick coatings that cure to smooth, texture-free surfaces. However, it is not as easy to apply smooth thin films. Due to the particle size of powder coatings, thinner films become more and more orange peeled in texture.
Most industrial powder coatings have a particle size in the range of 2 to 50 microns, a softening temperature Tb around 176ºF, a melting temperature around 302ºF, and are cured at around 392ºF for minimum 10 minutes to 15 minutes. Exact temperatures and times depend on the thickness of the item being coated.
Powder coatings with film build-ups of greater than 50 microns may be required to obtain an acceptably smooth film. The surface texture which is considered desirable or acceptable depends on the end product. Many manufacturers prefer a some “orange peel” texture to hide metal defects that occur in manufacture. Also, the more textured finish hides fingerprints.
Key Advantages of Industrial Powder Coatings
- No solvents. Industrial powder coatings release little or no volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the atmosphere. This means they can comply easier with EPA regulations.
- Thicker coatings. Industrial powder coatings can produce much thicker coatings than liquid coatings without running or sagging.
- Visual consistency. Industrial powder coatings generally show fewer differences than liquid coatings between surfaces that are coated vertically and horizontally.
- Specialty effects. Industrial powder coatings offer a wide range of specialty effects that other coating processes cannot achieve.
- Fast curing time. Curing time is significantly faster with industrial powder coatings compared to liquid coatings, especially with UV-cured powder coatings or advanced low-bake thermosetting powders.
OUR MANUFACTURERS
We work with a variety of manufacturers to ensure the most possible options available for your custom project. To learn more about each manufacturer, including specific color options, please click on any of the manufacturer logos. For more information, just ask.
3M®
Akzo Nobel®
Axalta®
Cardinal®
Forrest Technical Coatings®
ifs coatings®
Pittsburgh Paint Group®
Prismatic Powders®
Applications of Industrial Powder Coatings
The industrial powder coating industry includes Teflon™ coatings, anodizing and electro-plating. The global powder coatings market is expected to reach USD 16.5 billion by 2024. Industrial powder coatings for aluminum extrusion are expected to become more widely used in windows, door frames, building facades, kitchen, bathroom and electrical fixtures.
Rising construction spending in various countries including China, the U.S., Mexico, Qatar, UAE, India, Vietnam, and Singapore will fuel growth over the forecast period. Increasing government support for eco-friendly and economical products will stimulate demand over the forecast period. General industries were the prominent application segment and accounted for more than 20% of the global volume in 2015.
Increasing demand for tractors in the U.S., Brazil, Japan, India, and China is expected to augment the use of powder coatings on account of its corrosion protection, excellent outdoor durability, and high-temperature performance. Moreover, growing usage in agricultural equipment, exercise equipment, file drawers, computer cabinets, laptop computers, cell phones, and electronic components will propel industry expansion.
Oil and Gas. Industrial powder coatings provide essential protection from corrosion in some of the world’s harshest industrial and offshore environments. Coatings for both the inside and outside of pipelines can resist damage and cracking during handling and coupling operations.
Power. Industrial powder coatings provide superior protection to equipment in all power industries, including wind, nuclear, hydroelectric, fossil fuels, wave and tidal power. They are also used extensively as electrical insulation in small motors, electrical distribution systems, capacitors and magnetic cores.
Architecture and Construction.
Automotive. Industrial powder coatings are widely used on the interior and exteriors of automobiles. This includes bodies, bumpers, interior coatings, door handles, dashboards, and metal and engine parts.
Electronics. Industrial powder coatings are widely used in computers, home entertainment systems, gaming systems, and home appliances. They can be applied to all types of plastic or metal substrates to deliver high gloss, low gloss, soft feel, durability and resistance to scratches and finger prints.
Computer, Networking & Telecommunications. Industrial powder coatings provide a tough, cutting-edge finish for computer, networking, telecommunications and self-service technology. Powder coatings are used widely on laptop and desktop computers, servers, industrial computers, server and telecommunications equipment cabinets, printers, telephones, check-in kiosks, ATMs and self-service equipment.
Furniture and Flooring. Industrial powder coatings provide an attractive and protective finish to household furniture, office furniture, commercial furniture, lawn and garden furniture, store fixtures and shelving and much more. They also provide durability and consumer appeal to solid plank, engineered and vinyl floor coverings.
Water and Waste Water. Industrial powder coatings provide protective coatings with excellent corrosion resistance for the steel and concrete used in the water and waste water industries. This includes facilities and equipment for raw water distribution, water treatment, water storage, and desalination. Industrial powder coatings can also coat and line potable water tanks and pipes approved to international standards.
Household Appliances. Industrial powder coatings are applied to a wide range of household appliances, including kitchen tools, cookers, freezers, central heating, radiators, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioning units, and more.
FUNCTIONAL POWDER COATING
Powder coating offers a highly scratch resistant finish applicable to a number of surfaces. It provides a restorative solution to a wide range of surfaces commonly exposed to harsh environmental elements such as patio furniture, fencing, gates, automotive frames, and trailers.
ARCHITECTURAL POWDER COATING
“An architect’s most useful tools are an eraser at the drafting board, and a wrecking bar at the site.” — Frank Lloyd Wright
Unfortunately, the master himself didn’t live to see the superior benefits of architectural powder coating! To combat against weather and wear on common surfaces, or to enhance architectural aesthetics, architectural powder coatings are used to improve both form and function.
MOTORSPORT POWDER COATING
Nothing says “winner” like a sleek, shiny piece of machinery. Highly resistant to wear and tear, chipping, scratches and fading; powder coating for motorsports offers superior protection in your choice of color (see manufacturers) and finish.
DECORATIVE POWDER COATING
As the old saying goes, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature”, and decorative powder coating lends highly realistic detail without compromising look for longevity. Decorative powder coating offers a unique alternative for wood and natural stone design elements. By replicating natural finishes through powder coating, we provide long-lasting, weather-resistant decorative finishes with the protection benefits of powder coating.
CAPABILITES
Our powder coating capabilities include:
- Pickup and Delivery available
- Seven ovens capable of up to 50’ in length
- Curing temperatures up to 1000 degrees
- Burn Off Oven – Heat Stripping
- Blasting – Manual (ferrous and non ferrous) and automated wheel abrader
- Electrostatic fluidized bed
OUR OTHER COATINGS
