Powder Coating – The Perfect Finish

At Aluminium Trading, we know that quality finishing options are an important aspect for many of our customers. Different finishes can provide aesthetic and performance improvements to sheets and extruded profiles. Powder coating can provide the benefits of a flawless surface coverage and increased abrasion resistance.

A Modern Method

Powder coating is a 3 part process achieved by spraying a dry coloured powder on to a material, usually metal, that is able to take on an electrical charge and withstand high temperatures. The entire process is as follows:

1. Part preparation or the “pre-treatment”.
2. The powder application.
3. Curing at high temperature.

It is essential to remove any oil, dirt, grease, welding scale etc. prior to the application of the powder. There are a variety of chemical and mechanical methods used for pre-treatment. The best method to be used depends on the impurities that need to be removed, the type of material, the size of the parts to be powder coated, and the performance requirements of the finished product.

The powder application process is then performed using an electrostatic gun. The gun imparts a negative charge to the chosen powder, which is then sprayed towards the object by use of mechanical or compressed air spraying and then accelerated toward the workpiece by the powerful electrostatic charge. There is a wide variety of spray nozzles available for use in electrostatic coating. The type of nozzle used will depend on the shape of the workpiece to be painted and the consistency of the paint.

A Pristine Finish

Once the powder has been evenly applied, the coated product is fired in a baking oven, the pigment then melts into an even layer, this means that there is no sagging or dripping on the sides of the product which can often be found when using some other traditional coating methods.

Additionally, due to the pigment being applied with the use of an electrostatic reaction, powder coating products tend to be more hard-wearing against chips and scuffs.

At Aluminium Trading we can match our powder colours to almost any colour swatch if necessary, so the range of finishes is rather substantial. For a more refined end product, we can produce fine textured, peeled, matte and high gloss finishes with any powder coated product.

Your One Stop Shop

With a rainbow of colouring options and refinements available, powder coating makes it easy for manufacturers to create a truly unique product that meets their specifications and expectations. We’re able to powder coat any orders prior to despatch, saving you the unnecessary time and effort required to order from one supplier and coat at another. If you are interested in an attractive and hard-wearing finish for your sheets, tubes or box section products, then speak to a friendly Aluminium Trading representative today.