Powder coating?

What is it? What's the cost? Can it be done at home? If so, how's it done?Powder coating?
Powder coating is a chemical coating that comes in a variety of formulations. From the Powder Coating Institute's book Powder Coating: The Complete Finisher's Handbook, Volume One, ';Typically powder coatings consist of resins, a crosslinker, pigments and extenders, flow aids and a degassing solvent (solids)'; There are two types of powder coating - thermosetting and thermoplastic. I presume you would be interested in thermosetting for coating auto parts, lawn furniture, etc.





The most common themosetting powders from my experience are Polyester, Polyester TGIC (triglycidyl isocyanurate), Acrylic and Epoxy. There are others but I will spare you. These powder can have a variety of desirable characteristics such as durability or UV resistance. You should ask your powder supplier about the properties of the powder you are about to use.





Powder is applied through an electrostatic coating process where the part is grounded and the powder has an electric charge applied to it. This allows the powder to adhere to the part through the curing process.





Powder coating is very economical and environmentally friendly. It is recyclable (powder that doesn't hit the part may be reused if clean).





Can it be done at home? Yes, I know of people who do it at home with relatively basic coating equipment. I've even seen coating equipment for the backyard mechanic to coat and then cure in his/her kitchen oven.





For home coating you would require the proper equipment (a powder gun of some sort with equipment to spray the powder. A way to thoroughly clean and hang the parts, generally via a hook and of course and oven of some sort to get the 375-450 degree F required to properly gel and cure the powder (temps vary with the powder, but it is pretty much always above 360 F).





Problems with coating at home: Long term adhesion will not be good. Even if you get a veryclean surface prior to coating without a pretreatment step there is nothing to foster adhesion between the substrate (metal in most, but not all, cases). This does not mean your powder won't stick, but in the long run you will have adhesion issues if the coating is scratched or compromised in any way (especially if exposed to the environment). This could lead to disappointment for you or your customer.





The professional accomplishes adhesion through the application of of a conversion coating, most commonly iron phosphate with powder coating. This type of conversion coating or pretreatment is generally NOT available to the consumer. However, if you are starting a business I would begin by calling local chemical companies in your area. Tell them you are looking for a conversion coating for powder coating. Eventually you will find one that might help you.





Good Luck!Powder coating?
They apply a powder to a piece of metal then bake it to the metal. When it cools, it's like a thick coat of paint the is impervious to chips and cracking as well as scratches. It may not take a really high heat to do it but doing it at home is unlikely. The oven gets hot enough but you can't put anything but small pieces in it and they need to be hung so they won't stick to anything while cooking and then there's the mess it makes when some of the powder coating drips off. The cost will be different from place to place but where I am the cost is much cheaper than painting.
Special painting process -- very hard and durable. A lot of new cars are coming out with some of the trim done in powder coat.


Can be done at home with proper equipment -- but best left to a professional as mistakes are hard to fix. A lot of factory equipment is done in powder coat. What I have seen so far on the new cars is not very attactive but will probably last.
Its a very tough type of ceramic coating very expensive but lasts it does not chip or wear off can be in any color is like rhino lining
Powdered paint is put onto metal pieces electrostatically and then into a heated room where it is baked on. No can't do at home
There are do it yourself kits, but I wouldn't think they could be as good as a professional finish.


The powder is sprayed at low pressure, and clings to the metal by electro-static cling. Then it is put in an industrial oven to bake, which melts the powder and makes it run together into a near bullet-proof smooth finish. You can take a hammer and dent the metal, but the coating will still stay stuck to the frame.