Many industries who produce products from aluminum prefer to use a powder coating to provide a higher quality item to their customers. While other options do exist, including plastisol and plating, companies who make products for personal and commercial prefer this method. Finishers and industrialists in Michigan find this process produces the exact qualities they require for their applications.
The Process
Although may consider the actual coating process to be the most important, this is actually not the case. When coating aluminum, everything depends on the pre-coating process. A pre-coating treatment begins with an assessment of the metal alloy for any indications of cracks, flaws, and other damages. Next is an intensive cleaning process. This involves the removal of any contaminants e.g. dirt, grease. Following this comes the actual powder coating.
The coating may be classified as:
1. Thermosets
2. Thermoplastics
The most common polymers finishers in Michigan use are:
Acrylics
Epoxy
Polyester
Polyester-epoxy
The application of the powder requires the use of an electrostatic spray gun. It sprays a positive-charged fine pigment-resin mix onto the aluminum surface. The charge creates a bond between the surface and the powder.
After the spraying is complete, the component is set for curing. This requires placement in an oven at a fixed temperature for a set time. The applied powder melts in a uniform fashion, creating a coating. Upon cooling, the coating becomes hard.
Advantages of Powder Coating Aluminum
Many industries in Michigan find the powder coating of aluminum to be cost-effective. They also prefer this process to others for several reasons. Powder coatings can reduce corrosion and increase the longevity of the product. To many customers in Michigan, this method is more important because of its small environmental footprint. Production and implementation involve no solvents or volatile organic compounds (VOC). The waste is recyclable or easily disposable. Overall, powder coatings are an excellent means of producing high-quality products without damaging the environment.
