Introduction to Powder Coatings
Introduction to Powder Coatings
The technology for coating products with dry powder rather than conventional liquids has been available since the 1950s. The powder used for the process is a mixture of finely ground particles of pigment and polymeric resin.
The powder is either:
- Sprayed electrostatically onto a surface to be coated, or
- The substrate is dipped into a fluidized bed of suspended powder
The powder adheres to a preheated substrate surface in the fluidized bed process, or they adhere electrostatically in the spray process. When heated further in a curing oven, the particles flow and fuse into a strong, adhering coating.
The result is a high quality coating with an attractive finish and excellent durability
Although the final properties of the powder coatings are often superior to liquid coating systems. The reason for the fast growth of this technology has been more related to the evidence that powder coatings:
- Maximize production
- Cut costs
- Improve efficiencies, and
- Offer maximum compliance with increasing stringent environmental regulations
Environmental advantages have led the way for the conversion of liquid coatings to powder coatings.
Key Benefits and Limitations of Powder Coatings
Key Benefits and Limitations of Powder Coatings
As compared to liquid coatings, powder coatings have been shown to offer several benefits as listed below.
- They possess significant durability and resistance to abrasion, scratching, corrosion, and chemicals
- They stay bright with less fading, and color selection is virtually unlimited with high and low gloss, metallic, and clear finishes available
- Texture selections range from smooth surfaces to wrinkled or matte finishes, and rough textures are available for hiding surface imperfections
- Thick coatings can be achieved quickly and efficiently
- They contain no solvent, and thereby the process emits negligible, if any, polluting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere
- The processes used for powder coating do not require venting, filtering, or solvent recovery
- Cost saving because there is less need for heating outside air to supply oven exhaust air, and
- Most of the powder coating over-spray can be retrieved and re-used
Let’s check out the advantages and disadvantages of powder coatings in brief.
ADVANTAGES |
DISADVANTAGES |
- No solvents so that VOCs are nil - minimal fire risk, environmentally friendly
- Exhaust air from the coating booth can be returned to the coating room, thus less oven air is exhausted to the outside
- Over-spray (up to 98%) can be retrieved and reused
- No drying or flash time required so that parts can be racked closer together
- Easily adapted to continuous, automatic processes
- Coating does not run, drip, or sag, thereby lowering rejection rates
- Minimum operator training and supervision
- Thick coatings are easily possible
- High throughput/output options
- Simple clean-up and maintenance
- Very high utilization rates of 95% or more
- Operator training can be simplified
- Generally reduced operator exposure risks
- High film build in one coat
- Very high performance in specific applications
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- Variable coating thickness may give optical defects, very thin coatings (less than 1.0 mil) are difficult because of pinholes
- Frequent color changes could entail extensive downtime
- Storage and handling of powder requires special climate controls
- Color matching and color uniformity is more difficult than with liquid coatings
- Uniformity of coating thickness is sometimes difficult to maintain
- Cure temperatures required for some powders are too high for temperature sensitive parts
- Conversion from liquid coating processes is expensive
- Inside corners have low film thickness owing to the Faraday cage effect
- Difficulty in coating sharp edges and inside corners of objects (less with tribo spray)
- Contamination very easily produces surface defects
- Difficulties in matting and obtaining some special effect finishes
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Now when we have seen several benefits offered by powder coatings, it is equally important to understand its manufacturing and application process in detail.
How are Powder Coatings Manufactured?
How are Powder Coatings Manufactured?
The established manufacturing process for powder coatings comprises the following steps:
Dry blending all raw ingredients
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Passing through an extruder at elevated temperature to mill the pigments, melt the resins and achieve a homogeneous mix
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Cooling the extrudate rapidly
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Milling the flakes of an extrudate to final size in a multi-stage process
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Removing undersize and oversize particles
Limitations of Manufacturing Process
This process has a number of fairly evident limitations:
- Liquid additives (including pigment dispersants) cannot be used unless first converted to a solid form.
- Shearing time equals the dwell time in the extruder - typically around 20 seconds - with no opportunity to extend dispersion time or control it independently; the shear is inadequate for some types of pigments and too much for many effect pigments.
- Care must be taken to ensure that extruder temperatures are low enough to avoid premature crosslinking.
Various proposals have been put forward for processes which avoid these problems, but they have not so far had a major impact.
How are Powder Coatings Applied?
How are Powder Coatings Applied?
Powder coating is a dry finishing process, using finely ground particles of pigment and resin. These particles are generally electrostatically charged and sprayed onto electrically grounded parts.
The substrate is first pretreated similarly to conventional liquid-coated parts. The pretreatment process is normally conducted in series with the coating and curing operations. The charged powder particles adhere to the parts and are held there until melted and fused into a smooth coating in a curing oven.
There are essentially two common ways of applying powder coating:
- Electrostatic spray
- Fluidized bed
There are several other processes that have been developed, but they are far less used. These include flame spraying, spraying with a plasma gun, airless hot spray, and coating by electophoretic deposition.
Let’s discuss the main technologies in detail,
Electrostatic Spray
Electrostatic spray method uses a powder-air mixture from a small fluidized bed in a powder feed hopper. The powder is supplied by a hose to the spray gun, which has a charged electrode in the nozzle fed by a high voltage dc power. In some cases, the feed hoppers vibrate to help prevent clogging or clumping of powders prior to entry into the transport lines.
The electrostatic powder spray gun helps in:
- Directing the flow of powder
- Controlling the deposition rate
- Controlling the pattern size, shape, and density of the spray
- Charging the powder being sprayed
The spray guns can be manual (hand-held) or automatic, fixed or reciprocating, and mounted on one or both sides of a conveyorized spray booth.
Electrostatic spray powder coating operations use collectors to reclaim over-spray. This reclaimed powder is then reused, adding significantly to the powder coating's high transfer efficiency.
There are various gun designs that mainly differ in the method of applying electrostatic charge to the powder. In some cases, the powder is electrostatically charged by friction. The advantage is that the powder is free to deposit in an even layer over the entire surface of the part, and deposition into recesses is improved.
The film thickness is dependent on the powder chemistry, preheat temperature, and dwell time.
- Film thicknesses of 1.5 - 5.0 mils (37.5 - 125 µm) can generally be applied on cold products
- If the products are preheated slightly, 20 - 25 mils (500 - 625 µm) coatings can easily be applied in a single coat
Fluidized Bed
The fluidized bed coating process is a simple dipping process that can be either conventional or electrostatic.
#1 Conventional Fluidized Bed Process - The fluidized bed is a tank with a porous bottom plate.
The plenum below the porous plate supplies low-pressure air uniformly across the plate. The rising air surrounds and suspends the finely divided plastic powder particles, so the powder-air mixture resembles a boiling liquid as shown in the figure.
Products that are preheated above the melt temperatures of the powder are dipped in the fluidized bed, where the powder melts and fuses into a continuous coating.
A high transfer efficiency results from little drag out and no dripping. The fluidized bed powder coating method is used to apply heavy coats in one dip i.e. 3 - 10 mils (75 - 250 µm), uniformly to complex-shaped products.
It is possible to build a film thickness of 100 mils (2500 µm) using higher preheat temperatures and multiple dips.
Effects of preheat temperature and dipping time on the film build in coating a steel bar with epoxy resin
#2 Electrostatic Fluidized Bed Process - It is essentially a fluidized bed with a high voltage dc grid installed above the porous plate to charge the finely divided particles. Once charged, the particles are repelled by the grid, and they repel each other, forming a cloud of powder above the grid. These electrostatically charged particles are attracted to and coat products that are at ground potential. Film thicknesses are similar to what can be achieved in the electrostatic spray process.
ADVANTAGES |
DISADVANTAGES |
- Preheating of parts is generally not necessary
- Small products, such as electrical components, can be coated uniformly and quickly
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- The product size is limited
- Inside corners have low film thickness owing to the well-known faraday cage effect
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How to Cure Powder Coated Products?
How to Cure Powder Coated Products?
There are four basic methods normally used in the curing of powder-coated parts as discussed below.
- Convection
- Convection ovens can be either gas or electric
- Hot air is circulated around the powder-coated parts, and the parts attain the temperature within the oven
- Infrared
- Infrared ovens, using either gas or electricity as their energy source, emit radiation in the IR wavelength
- The radiated energy is absorbed by the powder and the substrate immediately below the powder, so the entire part need not be heated to the cure temperature. This allows a relatively rapid heat rise causing the powder to flow and cure when exposed for a sufficient time
- A combination of the two
- Combination ovens generally use IR as the first zone to melt the powder quickly. This process is termed near-infrared (NIR) cure, and powders are formulated specifically to take advantage of this process
- The part then progresses into a second zone, which is a convection oven
- Ultraviolet (UV) curing
- UV curing is commonly used with heat-sensitive substrates
- Specifically formulated UV powders flow at very low temperatures (121°C) and can be cured via UV radiation in a matter of seconds
Note: Thermoplastic powders require heat only to fuse the powder together into a continuous film while thermosetting powders often require additional heat to cure the film on the product
Below find a comparison of general curing conditions for heat curing of conventional thermosetting powders and UV curable powders using the various heating modes described above.
Heating / Curing |
Temperature, °C |
Total Curing Time, Minutes |
Substrate |
Conventional Thermosetting Powders |
Convection |
140-220 |
30-15 |
Metal
|
Infrared + Convection |
140-220 |
25-10 |
Metal |
Infrared
|
160-250
|
15-1
|
Metal
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UV Curable Powders
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Infrared / Convection for heating
(1-2 mins) and UV for curing (secs)
|
90-120
|
3-1
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Metal, wood, plastic, others
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Types of Resins Used in Powder Coatings
Types of Resins Used in Powder Coatings
The resin component in the formulation will largely determine the processing and end-use performance properties of powder coatings. There are two main classifications for powder coatings:
- A thermoplastic powder coating melts and flows when heat is applied but continues to have the same chemical composition once it cools to a solid coating.
- A thermosetting powder coating also melts when exposed to heat. However, after they flow to form a continuous film, they chemically crosslink on additional heating.
The final coating has a different chemical structure than the applied powder.
Thermosetting Powders |
Thermoplastic Powders |
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Thermoplastics Powders
Thermoplastic powders are typically high molecular weight materials that require high temperatures to melt and flow.
- The primary advantage of thermoplastic coatings is that they form a smoother finish and require less energy
- They are commonly applied by fluidized bed application, and the parts are both preheated and post-heated
- Most of the thermoplastic powder coatings have marginal adhesion so that the substrate must be pretreated and sometimes primed prior to coating application
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Vinyl |
Nylon |
Polyester |
Primer Required |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Melting Point, °C |
130-150 |
186 |
160-170 |
Typical Pre/Post Heat, °C |
284 / 230 |
310 / 250 |
300 / 250 |
Adhesion |
G-E |
E |
E |
Surface Appearance |
Smooth |
Smooth |
Slight Peel |
Gloss, 60° |
40-90 |
20-95 |
60-95 |
Pencil Hardness |
HB-2H |
B |
B-H |
Salt Spray Resistance |
G |
E |
G |
Weathering |
G |
G |
E |
Humidity |
E |
E |
G |
Acid Resistance |
E |
F |
G |
Alkali Resistance |
E |
E |
G |
Solvent Resistance |
F |
E |
F |
E = Excellent, G = Good, F = Fair |
Physical and Coating Properties of Thermoplastic Powders
Thermosetting Powders
Unlike thermoplastic powder coatings, thermosetting powders are heat stable and will not revert back to the molten stage when reheated after curing. They are also:
- Tougher
- Have better adhesion to metal substrates, and
- More resistant to solvents and chemicals
Thermosetting powders account for about 95% of all powder coatings.
|
Epoxy |
Epoxy Hybrids |
Urethane Polyester |
TGIC Polyester |
Acrylic |
Hardness (Pencil) |
HB-7H |
HB-2H |
HB-4H |
HB-4H |
HB-4H |
Impact Resistance (in-lbs) |
60-160 |
40-100 |
Gloss (60° meter) |
3-100+ |
10-100+ |
15-95 |
20-90 |
10-90 |
Color |
Al colors, clear, textures |
Salt Spray |
1000 hrs |
1000 hrs min |
1000 hrs |
1000 hrs min |
Condensing Humidity |
Cure Range* |
3 min at 232°C to 25 min at 121°C |
10 min at 204°C to 25 min at 149°C |
10 min at 204°C to 25 min at 177°C |
* Typical 2 mil (50 µm) film – time at metal temperature |
Now let’s see some of them in detail.
Epoxy Powder Coatings
Epoxy coatings are used wherever a hard, electrically insulating coating is required to provide protection over a wide temperature range. Depending on the particular epoxy resin selected, these coatings can be used up to 150°C or higher.
Epoxy powder coatings have a dielectric strength of up to 1200 volts/mil., in thicknesses over 10 mils (250 µm). They are, therefore, ideal as functional electrical insulators as well as a protective coating
Chemical resistance to most solvents and mild acids and bases is good, and epoxy powder coatings provide excellent toughness and corrosion resistance. Adhesion to metal substrates is excellent, and generally epoxy powder coatings do not require a primer
Epoxies are often used for decorative applications. They can be formulated to provide a variety of colors, glosses, and textures. Typical applications include metal office furniture, shelving, interior car parts, and toys.
The major limitation of epoxy powder coatings is a tendency toward brittleness if the coating is over a few mils thick. They will also chalk when subjected to UV radiation. For this reason, they are rarely used for outdoor applications.
Epoxy-Polyester Hybrid Powder Coatings
Epoxy-polyester hybrids combine epoxy resin with polyester resin to form a powder with many of the same characteristics as the epoxies. This group of powder coatings could be considered part of the epoxy family except for the high percentage of polyester utilized (often in excess of half the resin).
Property wise these resins are very close to their epoxy counterparts:
- Epoxy-polyester hybrid coatings are generally tough, flexible, and competitively priced when compared to pure epoxy coatings
- Hybrids provide some improvement in weatherability, but they will begin to chalk almost as fast as an epoxy coating. However, after initial chalking, the deterioration is slower
- Some hybrids are less resistant to chemicals and solvents. Hybrids are likely to be used in many of the same applications as epoxies
Urethane Polyester Powder Coatings
Urethane polyester powders are one of the two polyester powder coatings being used commercially (the other is polyester TGIC). The primary type that has been used for several years is a urethane cured polyester powder, which is comparable chemically to the exterior quality urethane.
Coatings of this type offer:
- Outstanding thin film-appearance
- Toughness with excellent weathering properties
It is common to block the crosslinker in urethane polyesters with e-caprolactam. To begin the crosslinking process, the material must reach a temperature above the blocking agent threshold. With e-caprolactam, unblocking occurs at approximately 182°C.
Urethane polyester powder coatings are true competitors to high-quality liquid paints
in respect to thin film appearance
They are used for exterior applications such as patio furniture, automotive wheels and trim, lawnmowers, and a wide range of other products requiring high-quality, decorative finishes.
Polyester TGIC Powder Coatings
Polyester triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC) powders are another type of polyester powder coatings being used commercially. In these coatings a very low molecular weight glycidyl or epoxy-functional curing agent is used to co-react with the polyester. In this way, the polyester constitutes a very high percentage of the resin and provides weather and corrosion resistance incomparable to the urethane cured polyesters. However, their resistance to chemical and solvents is lower.
- TGIC powders have very good adhesion characteristics, corrosion resistance, and exterior durability
- They can typically be cured at lower temperatures than urethanes and have shorter cure cycles
- They also provide good edge coverage and tough, thick films
Typical applications of polyester TGIC powder coatings are where sharp edges and corners exist such as on automotive wheels, air conditioners, lawn furniture, and air conditioner cabinets.
Acrylic Powder Coatings
Acrylic powders provide good appearance, tough surface, exceptional weatherability, and excellent electrostatic application characteristics. Common acrylic based powder coats include:
- Urethane acrylics
- Urethane acrylics require cure temperatures of 182°C
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They offer excellent thin-film appearance, good chemical resistance and hard films
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Flexibility and impact resistance is usually poor
- Acrylic hybrids
- They combine the acrylic resin with an epoxy binder
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They are somewhat better than a polyester-epoxy hybrid but still not considered acceptable for exterior use
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Acrylic hybrids generally have much better mechanical properties than the other acrylic powder coats
- Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) acrylics
- GMA acrylics can be cured in less time or at a lower temperature than urethane acrylics, and they also can provide superior weathering characteristics
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They make excellent clear coats over brass or chrome
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Like the urethane acrylics, flexibility is somewhat limited
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Powder Coatings
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coatings are used for their excellent properties, including
- Softness, glossy surface & flexibility
- Impact strength
- Resilience, and
- Salt spray and weathering resistance
PVC coatings have good chemical and water resistance. They can be formulated for:
- FDA approved applications such as frozen food shelving and dishwasher baskets
- General purpose electrical insulation
- Chain link fence wire, outdoor furniture, and similar applications
Special primers are generally required for optimal adhesion. Two types of vinyl powder are used: dry blends and melt mixed. The dry blends are less expensive, but the melt mixed materials are superior in performance.
Polyolefin Powder Coatings
Polyethylene and polypropylene powder coatings provide soft and waxy films that have characteristics very similar to their plastic counterparts. Polyolefin powder coatings are used primarily for their low cost and ease of application.
However, they also have certain properties that are very attractive in many applications. In addition to toughness common to other thermoplastics, they have:
- Low water absorption
- Excellent chemical resistance
- Good electrical insulation characteristics
- High durability, and
- Resistant to many chemicals and detergents; however, some solvents can break them down quickly
Polyolefins are often used to coat laboratory equipment because the surface is easily cleaned. They are also used for food handling equipment and for automotive applications such as battery hold-downs.
Nylon Powder Coatings
Nylon powders are practically all based nylon 11. Nylon 6/10 is sometimes used but at high cost. Nylon powders are used to produce powder coatings which of a wide range of benefits, including:
- Toughness
- Excellent abrasion, wear, and impact resistance
- A low coefficient of friction
- Good chemical and solvent resistance
- Smooth surface finish
Generally, a primer must be used with nylon powder coatings to achieve the adhesion level needed for higher performance applications. Nylons can be formulated for food contact applications, outdoor applications such as light fixtures or seating and marine applications where they completely encapsulate fittings, bolts, and other hardware items.
Polyester Powder Coatings
Thermoplastic polyester powder materials have better than average adhesion properties without the need for a primer. They also exhibit good UV resistance and weatherability. Polyester powder coatings are somewhat more difficult to apply than nylon materials and are not as resistant to abrasion or solvent.
Polyester coatings are often applied to such items as outdoor metal furniture due to their good weatherability, corrosion resistance, and general durability.
Polyvinylidene Fluoride Powder Coatings
Polyvinylidiene fluoride (PVF) based coating resins have excellent weathering characteristics and excellent resistance to chemicals exception for certain hydrocarbon solvents. They are used to coat piping and valves used in the chemical process industries. Usually a chromate primer is recommended.
Raw Materials Used in Powder Coatings