Powder Coating Process
Preparing the Part
Before they can be treated, parts must be thoroughly cleaned to remove any dirt, oil, rust, or surface irregularities. For new items, this usually involves using a wire brush and low grade solvent. For all used parts however, we use a blast abrasive method to ensure that the parts are properly treated.
The part will be sent through our sandblasting station where it is bombarded with blast particles until the surface is ready for coating. After blasting, any leftover sand or dust is thoroughly cleaned from the part before moving on to the application phase.
Applying the Powder
Unlike typical paint, powder based paint is not contained inside of a solvent which coats the part. Instead, the finely ground paint particles must be applied using an electrically induced adherence method.
First, an electrostatic charge must be applied to the part being treated. We then use a hand held corona spray gun to spray a particle cloud toward the part. Since the corona gun imparts a positive electric charge onto the powder, the particles are electrically drawn and held to the part.
Curing the Part
With the electrically charged powder particles clinging to the part, it is now time for the curing stage. The item is carefully moved into our large bake oven, which is capable of holding everything from small brackets to auto frames.
Most parts are baked at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 10 minutes until the heat has caused the powder to flow and harden into a very uniform and durable finish.