Powder coating is a dry coating, which is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. Unlike a conventional liquid paint, powder coating does not require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form. Each powder particle contains the necessary resin, pigment, modifiers and curing agent. The powder is applied directly to the surface of metals electrostatically, meaning the powder particles are charged. The charged powder sticks to the surface, the part is placed in the curing oven, and the powder melts, bonds and cures to the surface, forming a “skin.” The result is a uniform high quality finish.
Since there are no solvents, the entire powder coating process is environmentally friendly. There is no generation of hazardous waste, and no volatile compound emissions are released into the atmosphere.
There are several advantages of powder coating over conventional liquid coatings including:
