Powder coating is among the best treatment processes because it gives your materials a sleek, visually appealing, and highly durable finish. Any metal surface retaining the electrostatic charge used to bake the sprayed powder and withstand the high temperatures generated during curing is suitable. Powder coating's versatility makes it suitable for use on a wide variety of materials, including metal, glass, wood, and plastic.

When considering powder coating for your industrial or home items, it's important to know what surfaces can be coated. Find out what kinds of materials you can powder coat and how simple it is to arrange for this service for your most valuable goods.

What Are the Requirements for Powder Coating?

Materials' resistance to high temperatures is the primary factor in determining their suitability for powder coating. Sometimes the powder coating process can get so hot that it melts the material it's applied to. Powder coatings are made from various pigments, polymer resins, leveling agents, and flow modifiers.

These are combined, allowed to cool, and then ground into a fine powder. After mixing powder coating, it is applied to the material through a technique known as electrostatic spray deposition. You can use a spray gun to employ an electrostatic charge that bonds the powder.

After applying the powder coating, the part is placed in a curing oven where heat triggers a chemical process between the polymer molecules, creating a dense network of cross-links. This is typically employed on metals that can be properly charged, but it also applies to non-metallic materials.

Metals That Can Be Powder Coated

Aluminum

Powder coating is a great option for aluminum, as it is for most metals. When heated to 650 degrees Fahrenheit, aluminum softens, making it suitable for use in a curing oven. Powder coatings improve aluminum products by giving them more durability, protecting them from corrosion, and offering a variety of options for customization.

Powder coating aluminum can be challenging because the surface must be properly prepared for the coating to adhere well and last. For instance, aluminum oxide forms rapidly on the metal and must be completely removed for proper powder coating adhesion.

Brass and copper 

Pretreatment and cleaning are also necessary for copper and brass, just like aluminum. Because brass and copper are made of different chemicals, the natural metal may be visible when you use lighter colors for powder coating. In general, powder coating works well on both brass and copper.

Stainless steel 

This high-quality steel takes polyester powder dyes exceptionally well. Additionally, stainless steel can withstand the high temperatures produced by the curing oven following powder application. To apply a stain or other finish to stainless steel, all you need is a smooth, grease-free surface. You can find colored stainless steel in various industrial and consumer items, including kitchen appliances, car parts, metal fabrications, and more.

Non-metals That Can Be Powder Coated

• Glass-Powder-coatedglass, particularly factory-made glass, is surprisingly common. Sinceglass can tolerate high temperatures, it will have no trouble curing.Vases, plates, and bowls are just some decorative items that typicallyhave a normal resinous powder coating. Glass with ceramic-based powdercoating is mostly applied on cooking utensils like baking tins.
• Woodand fiberboard - Perhaps surprisingly, the spontaneous combustiontemperature of many types of wood is significantly lower than thetemperature at which the powder coating cures. The powder coating lastsand even extends the life of the wooden surface. In the kitchen,powder-coating wooden items like cutting boards can be incredibly useful.It would likely chip and peel if you applied regular paint to a cuttingboard.
• Composites-Powder coating is a viable option for protecting carbon fiber (a materialused in high-end bicycle and automobile elements) and other compositesfrom the elements, though carbon fiber's unique properties and durabilitymay nullify some of the benefits of the coating.

How Durable is Powder Coating?

The durability of a powder coating is affected by factors such as its environment, purpose, and the material and coating used. Powder coating is often much more durable than paint and, in most cases, can go decades without being touched.

Take Away

Powder coating is more efficient than painting because it requires less labor. You can quickly and easily finish dry-powder treatments than a liquid finish, making them ideal for projects that require quick turnarounds. Powder coating prevents the evaporation of harmful substances during the curing stage more than other liquid spray paints; this means that the treating process of your metal or other material will not result in the release of hazardous chemicals into the environment.