Customers often ask our engineers about the different surface treatment options available for the glass spigot used in Easiahome’s railings. The common surface treatments include PVD electroplating, wire drawing, and powder coating. Today, we will provide more details about powder coating.
What is powder coating?
Powder coating is a dry finishing process that involves fusing dry powder onto a metal surface by using an electric charge. The resulting powder-coated surface is then cured in an oven to create a smooth finish. It is commonly used to create a harder decorative finish than traditional paint, providing better protection for metal surfaces, and is a high-quality surface treatment. The color and texture range of powder coating is unlimited, but only one color can be chosen at a time.
The process of powder coating
- Choose a suitable surface and clean any oil or dirt on the metal surface to ensure proper adhesion of the finish.
2. Apply the powder coating to the metal object: use an electrostatic gun or corona gun to give the powder a negative charge and then spray the powder onto the grounded object using mechanical or compressed air, and then accelerate towards the workpiece with a strong electrostatic charge. During the application stage, the powder changes and reaches an adhesive state with the selected surface through a process called electrostatic attraction, where the powder particles and the surface both carry a static charge.
3. After the powder coating is applied, the metal product should be cured at a temperature of over 400°F for at least 10 minutes. The goal of this step is to allow the powder to settle onto the selected surface.
Advantages and disadvantages of powder coating
Advantages
- Durability: Powder coating provides a more durable finish than liquid coatings while still providing an attractive finish. It is more resistant to impact, moisture, chemicals, UV, and other extreme weather conditions.
- Eco-friendly: The powder used in powder coating is an active ingredient-polymer powder that is an inert gas and has no toxins. It is easy to use with fewer coating controls.
Disadvantages
- Thickness: It is difficult to achieve the desired thickness and can even result in uneven thickness, affecting the overall texture.
- Cost: The process involves moderate setup costs due to the machinery involved.
- Color: The powder cannot be mixed, and different colors cannot be obtained at once. This can lower efficiency and lead to mismatched finishes. Although the recycling and reusing of powder coatings are an advantage, it can also lead to cross-contamination.
Powder coating application for Easiahome Glass Spigot
The process of powder coating glass spigot
Product Comparison
Qualified products
The glass spigot undergoes special treatments such as sanding with sand belts, shot blasting with stainless steel wire cut pellets, environmentally-friendly acid cleaning, and silane caramelization.
Although these treatments increase production costs and may result in a rough surface, they thoroughly remove impurities from the metal surface, enhance the adhesion of the paint film after coating, and undergo strict paint adhesion tests. Only after passing the test can the product be packaged and shipped.
Strict production processes are followed to ensure product quality and prevent paint film from peeling during use.
Low-quality product
If you blindly pursue cost saving, the product is only wire-drawn, without special treatment such as hanging and throwing stainless steel wire and cutting shots. Just spray directly, the surface of the product is fine and smooth to the naked eye, but after testing or actual use, the paint film will fall off in large areas due to insufficient adhesion and excessive impurities on the metal surface.
Conclusion
The glass clamp adopts the electrostatic spraying process for powder coating. Our products ensure that the adhesion force meets the standard and the surface is delicate.
We provide excellent corrosion protection. There are two types of surface glosses to choose from: semi-matte and full-matte. The glass clamp surface treated by powder coating is more robust and can better resist surface wear caused by impact, moisture, chemicals, ultraviolet rays, and other extreme weather conditions.
In terms of glass spigot manufacturing, we highly recommend powder coating finishing, which is the most environmentally friendly and durable surface treatment method.
Powder Coating vs. Paints
- The main advantage of powder coatings is their efficiency. Two-thirds of them can be used for metal spraying, and the transfer efficiency is as high as 60-70%.
- Powder coatings are similar to paints in that they contain resins, color pigments, and other additives. Paint also contains solvents.
- Powder coating is safer. Powders used in powder coatings are reactive.
- Powder provides better coverage, less maintenance, and more wear. It is more expensive than spray paint.
- The application of paint is more extensive. Paint is cheaper and it is easier to mix more colors.
- Paints and powders are prone to chalking when left outdoors for a long time, resulting in a faded appearance.
Some questions about powder coating
Q1: What metals Cannot be powder coated?
Some metals that cannot be powder coated include aluminum with a high magnesium content, copper, brass, and galvanized steel. These metals have a tendency to react with the powder coating, resulting in poor adhesion, discoloration, and corrosion.
Additionally, some metals that are too thin or too thick may not be suitable for powder coating, as they may warp or crack during the process.
Q2: How many years does powder coating last?
Powder coating is a durable and long-lasting finish for metal surfaces. The lifespan of powder coating depends on several factors, including the quality of the coating, the type of metal being coated, the environmental conditions, and the level of wear and tear.
Generally, a well-applied and maintained powder coating can last up to 20 years or more. However, if the coating is exposed to harsh conditions like extreme temperatures, chemicals, or heavy abrasion, its lifespan may be reduced. Regular cleaning and maintenance can help extend the life of a powder-coated surface.
