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Top 5 Powder Myths Exploded!
There is so much information on powder coating out there - not all of it correct! We asked our technical service managers for the powder myths they hear the most - and the facts that will explode them! Here is our top 5 powder myths!
1. Myth: Powder is indestructible.
Despite its many super hero properties, powder is not indestructible. It cannot withstand scratches from metal and abrasive surfaces. It’s tough, and it’s significantly more scratch resistant than competing liquid coatings, but it will still scratch. It will mar or scratch/scuff on the surface and potentially all the way to substrate depending on the force applied. As with most products, different types of powders deliver different properties, so choosing the right product type – not just the right color – for your application is important. Different types of powders offer different levels of mar/scratch resistance and powders can also be engineered to have additional scratch and mar properties added to them.
2. Myth: All powders spray or apply the same.
There are many factors that can make powder apply differently, even with consistent process controls. We know that powder with a high resin content will usually apply really well, whereas powders with a high pigment content tend not to apply as well. We also know that different components within the powder can make a huge difference in how the powder charges, therefore sometimes cheaper made powders will not apply as well. We also know that particle size can make a very big difference in how powder applies. Particle size usually is defined by what the end result of the powder needs to be and the process that it is being applied in. Small powder particles will have a much smoother orange peel than larger particles, but will not apply into recessed areas and build film as fast the larger particles. There’s a lot to consider, and you can always talk to one of our application experts if you’re having problems!
3. Myth: Powder is more important than pretreat.
Pretreat or substrate preparation is equally and sometimes more important to powder performance than the powder itself. If the substrate is not cleaned properly or the pretreat is not applied properly, the coating may fail even if the powder itself is applied and cured as it should be. We know that properly applied pretreat extends the corrosion resistance of powder over bare metal, helps with adhesion and can extend the life of coatings significantly even over a clean substrate. Many of the strict corrosion requirements in the market place today could not be met without the correct pretreat process underneath it.
4. Myth: Powder coated surfaces can’t be recoated.
We often hear that old powder myth, “powder coatings cannot be recoated due to lack of adhesion to the previous coat”. Well, that’s not always true. While on occasion in can happen, powder can be engineered to have excellent adhesion to a properly cured first coat. To aid the recoating of powder coated surfaces, sanding or abrading the first coat will significantly increase the chances of getting good adhesion when recoating. It’s good practice to test a powder for its recoating properties before sending recoated/reworked product out to a customer.
5. Myth: Metallic effect coatings are always the same.
When it comes to matching liquid metallic coatings and powder metallic coatings, there is always going to be some aspect where the visual appearance of the two is not identical. Many times we will see that they are practically identical at one angle yet look quite different when viewed at another angle. This is due to a combination of metallic loading and the differences in the coatings and the materials used. Liquid coatings are generally thinner and the metallic particles tend to be arranged differently within the coating therefore they reflect the light and give a different look that a powder coating. More of the ‘sparkle’ effect – metallic flake or mica – can also be added to liquid coatings compared with powder. If you want more info on metallics – check out our guide!