Powder Coating South Florida

At Bullseye Powder Coating, we provide powder coating services among others in South Florida. Powder coatings in South Florida can be applied on various items and are not just meant to provide a decorative and colorful touch but they are also meant to provide protection and longevity to metals. It is essential to add a finish to metal surfaces in order to protect it from corrosion and rust.

When metals are left unprotected, they react with oxygen in the air and form rust. One of the most popular finishes today is powder coatings in South Florida. Powder coating is much more durable than regular paint and results in a sturdy finish. Let’s take a look at what is powder coating, how it is applied, the different types of powder coating and other things.

What Is Powder Coating

Powder coating in South Florida is the electrostatic application of powder to metal parts which is then followed by curing or heating. Using a coating on metal is a great method to prevent corrosion. Powder coating in South Florida is used as a resilient protective layer that is applied to materials that need protection from corrosion. Powder coating is a dry process unlike other coating processes which are applied as liquids. This means that when it is applied to the base material it is a solid. It uses electrostatics in order to adhere to the substrate that is being coated. There are plenty of powder coatings available in South Florida which use different chemical compounds, and have different thicknesses and colors.

How Is Powder Coating Applied?

Powder coating in South Florida is applied using a powder coating spray gun. The spray gun propels the powder coating and simultaneously gives it an electrostatic charge. The substrate that is to be coated is grounded. This helps to attract the electrically charged particles and helps it to form a bond. After the substrate is coated it is cured in a curing oven. The heat in the oven helps the powder to bond together and stick to the base material without any electrical charge. Alternatively, a UV light may be used instead of a curing oven or in place of it.

Powder coatings in South Florida can also be applied using a fluidized bed. The base material is heated and then submerged into a container that has the powder coating. After it is submerged, depending upon the substrate and the coating that is used it may be post-cured.

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Types of Powder Coating

Powder coating in South Florida comes in different varieties and they are used depending on certain requirements and job conditions. In technical terms, powder coating can be categorized into thermosets and thermoplastics.

Thermosets are powder coating material which forms cross links among their molecular structure during curing. After they are cured thermosets are not affected too much by temperature and this makes it perfect for applications that require high temperature. It is more affordable compared to thermoplastics. Examples of thermosets are polyester resin, epoxy and vinyl ester. Thermoplastics is type of coating material can be heated more than one time which makes it great for removing coatings and doing certain post-coating alterations. They are more ductile, and can withstand high impacts without cracking or fracturing. It also has excellent chemical resistance. Examples of this coating include polyvinyl chloride, nylon and polyester.

In South Florida, powder coatings are available in the following types:

The different types of powder coatings that are available for various applications are as follows:

Epoxy

Epoxy is very durable and provides good resistance to chemicals and corrosion. It is mainly used indoors because the sun and weather can cause deterioration and fading within a few months.

But when it is combined with a good UV topcoat, it will last you a good number of years.

Polyester

Polyester is one of the most popular powder coatings in South Florida and it has a large basis for selection of different colors and gloss.

It is suitable for both interior as well as exterior applications and it has a good resistance to different chemicals, UV, weathering and corrosion. It is generally used in the automotive and power transmission industries.

Epoxy-polyester hybrid coatings

These coatings are quite similar to epoxy coatings and also have good resistance to corrosion and chemicals. The great thing about these chemicals is that it has the tolerance to be over-baked similar to polyester powder coatings.

Though they should not be exposed to UV rays they are a little more resistant. They are used across different sectors for electronic, plumbing as well as telecommunications.

Fluoropolymers

Fluoropolymer powders retain colors and gloss very well and are resistant to weathering. This powder coating also resists corrosion and makes an excellent choice especially for outdoor applications.

When you choose a certified applicator, you can even get a warranty for up to 20 years.

Urethanes

Urethane powder coatings have similar characteristics to polyester and are capable of resisting chemicals in a slightly better way. At the same time, they possess excellent matting ability.

Urethane powder coatings are usually less flexible because they are harder in nature and these are usually more expensive than other polyester powder coatings.

Which Materials Can Be Powder Coated?

Metals can hold an electrostatic charge and powder coating material can be easily adhered to them. So, all metal types can be powder coated. Another reason why metals make a good substrate for powder coating in South Florida is because they can also withstand high temperatures.

Most metals including aluminum, mild steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, electroplated steel, copper, brass and titanium can be powder coated. Some exceptions are pure zinc substrates, objects that have silicon residues on their surface and cold-brazen metals. But in reality, mostly aluminum and stainless steel are all coated. Materials that melt in high temperatures including rubber, plastic or wood cannot be powder coated.

Some common items that are powder coated in South Florida are metal furniture, lawn furniture, kitchen accessories, sinks, custom signs, motorcycles, rims, snowmobiles, metal walking sticks, etc.

How Thick Is Powder Coating?

Typically powder coatings in South Florida are applied in a thickness between 60 to 120 µm but sometimes they are applied in a lesser thinness or thickness as well. Generally, powder coatings have granular, dry paint particles that range between the size of 1 and 100 µm.
In South Florida, powder coatings are produced on the basis of polyester resin or epoxy.

Both epoxy and polyester resins are used as binders in hybrid systems. Sometimes polyurethane, PVC, acrylic, or polyamide also find that application in powder coating. Particle size and flow-ability of the paint during powder coating is decided by its mechanical properties. The melting point of paint particles is around 50°C. Paint particles are sensitive to temperature and they often sinter during application.

How Powder Coating Works

1. Pre-treatment of the surface

Before we begin the process of powder coating, pre-treatment of the substrate needs to be done. This process itself involves several steps.

The work-piece or substrate is first fastened to their corresponding holders. Once they are on the racks, they are conveyed through the process of powder coating. The importance of the racks is that they help in grounding and ensuring that that electrical conduction takes place.
Next, residues like rust, dirt, scale and grease need to be removed. The work-piece can either be cleaned in an automatic washing line. Cleaning agents which are ethanol-based or acetone-based and evaporate at room temperature without leaving any residue on the surface is used. Aqueous cleaning agents or solvents are used to remove greasy residues. If the cleaning process is done mechanically, then blasting, brushing or grinding takes place.
Subsequently there are many powder coatings processes that take place in order to prepare the powder coating for many conversion layers. With the application of each layer, the active surface area is increased and this helps in the adhesion of the powder coating. Some of the most common processes are etching of galvanized steel, anodizing of aluminum or phosphating of steel.
Sometimes even a corrosion protection layer can be applied before the application of the powder coating. Once the pre-treatment is done, the substrate is dried with the help of water driers that are designed especially for this use. Before we apply any powder coating, we must ensure that substrate is absolutely dry.

2. Application of the paint

Once the pre-treatment is complete, the paint particles are then applied which also involves several steps.

Preparation of the paint and in-feed:

Generally, paint is poured directly into a container from a batch. In South Florida, if powder coating is being re-used, we mix in fresh powder with the one being recycled. Before we transport the paint through the plant, it is usually shaken and swirled or fluidized so that the flow properties are improved. Paint particles can be distinguished into mass conveying and precision conveying. In order to transport large quantities of paint of over 5 kg per minute, mass conveying is used whereas in precision conveying the powder coating is transported to the spray gun in amounts of 50 to 100 grams per minute.
To keep powder coating uniform, it needs to be applied with the help of injectors in a uniform and pulsation-free method. Nowadays a modern method is to use digital dense conveying. This can be used for both precision and mass conveying. The principal that is used here is counter-pressure conveying. In this method, an exact dosing of paint particles is enabled and thus does not require fluidization of the powder.

3. Charging and application of the paint

Powder spray pistols are used to carry out the powder coating process. These powder spray pistols are used in manual applications as well as automatic and digital controlled applications of powder coating in South Florida.

The application of the paint itself is done by electrically charging the paint particles or electrostatically with the help of the powder pistols. The power pistols generate a powder cloud that is electrically charged. These particles are then deposited on the substrate surface. They adhere electrostatically and hence form powder coating. For charging the paint particles, different methods are used. These include:

Ionization
Electro-kinetic or tribo-electric charging
Alternative charging methods like coil coating, vortex sintering and powder coatings in aqueous suspensions

What Happens When Powder Coating Cures

When powder coating is exposed to high temperatures during curing, it melts and flows out. A chemical reaction takes place that forms a higher molecular weight polymer that has a network like structure.

This is called cross-linking and it needs a certain temperature for certain duration of time in order to fully cure. The polyester resin and curing agent have a great impact on cross-linking. Usually powder coating cures at around 180°C to 200°C for 10 to 15 minutes before it cools. But depending upon the manufacturer’s specifications the exact length of time and temperature can vary. Other factors that influence curing are the size of the object, the thickness of the coating and the efficiency of the oven.

How Long Does Powder Coating Last?

Powder coating in South Florida is a very high-quality finish and is used on plenty of products that we use every day. It can be used to protect the toughest and roughest machinery and also for simple everyday household items. Other than being used for decorative purposes, powder coating in South Florida is more durable than ordinary paints.

It also offers more resistance to diminishing which can happen due to impact, UV light, chemicals, moisture and harsh weather conditions. This greatly reduces the risk of chipping, scratches, corrosion, abrasions, pealing and wear and tear. Powder coating in South Florida generally lasts between 15 and 20 hours depending on what type of pre-treatment is given and what type of powder is used. If the pre-treatment is poor or skipped altogether, the powder coating will not be very durable.

Contact Us

If you are ready for powder coating in South Florida, feel free to reach out to us and contact us today. Powder coating in South Florida is one of our specialties. We also restore old furniture and other items to give it a fresh new look and bring it back to life!