When an electrostatically charged mixture of powdered plastic resin and additives is heat cured on a surface, the resulting layer is one of the most durable plastic coatings available, lasting up to 20 years or more. These strongly bonded coatings are easily able to resist weather, chemicals, corrosion, while providing benefits of sound and vibration dampening, and electrical insulating qualities, all with minimal care. The key to ensuring the highest durability of these coatings is proper surface preparation and ensuring appropriate care.

Powder Coating Surface Preparation

While powder coatings are naturally extremely durable due to the superior bond between the paint and substrate, this excellent durability can be improved with proper surface preparation. Steps to surface preparation can include cleaning substrates with acids or solvents and shot blasting to remove surface debris, rust, and scale. Pretreatments such as etching or phosphating and applying a coat of primer can also be beneficial by providing the best possible surface for the powder coating to adhere to.

What Can Affect Powder Coating Durability?

Inadequate surface preparation, poor maintenance, and certain environmental exposures can diminish the durability of even these long-lived coatings. Factors contributing to a degraded coating can include:

• Use of solvent-based or petroleum-based cleaners
• Use of abrasive cleaners such as steel wool, wire brushes, and scouring pads
• Use of overly high pressure pressure-washing 
• Exposure to salt water or blowing sand
• Repeated or prolonged exposure to extreme weather conditions
• Contact with certain chemicals and compounds such as gasoline, xylene, and caustics
• Some powder coating formulations have poor UV light resistance
• Some powder coating formulations are a little less flexible, so applications and coatings should be carefully matched, especially if extreme heat and/or cold will be an environmental exposure

At Precision Dip Coating, we strive to provide superior service, quality, and value in everything we do, and our decades of satisfied customers are the evidence of our success. Contact us today to see how we can bring our expertise to your project.