Powder coating is a specific process of dry finishing that has become very popular since the 1960s. Powder coating is used on different products. Many companies use the process of powder coating to get a long-lasting finish, a better quality that can improve efficiency and also maximize production. The process of electrostatic powder coating can be done with the help of an electrostatic powder coating gun.
About electrostatic
The electrostatic powder coating guns use a fluidized bed as the feed hopper that holds the power and then fluidizes it so that it can be pumped to the tip area of the guns with the help of compressed air. An electrostatic powder coating gun is designed and developed to impart an electrostatic charge to that specific powder and then direct it towards a workpiece that is grounded. This procedure enables the users to apply coatings that are thinner, with a large variety of protective and decorative qualities.
This specific electrostatic charge can be imparted with voltage. That is known as corona charging or by the frictional contact that happens inside the barrel of the gun that is known as Tribo charging. In the system known as corona charging, a source of voltage generates current through a cable that can carry it to the tip of the powder gun. Then, the powder is pumped through the gun and also out of the gun by using the air that is compressed. While passing through the electrostatic field of the tip of the gun, the powder picks up the charge and then is attracted to those grounded substrates.
Then that part is conveyed into an oven to cure the powder. Within that oven, the powder then melts and crosslinks to form a hard film after some time. Applying powder coatings through an electrostatic powder coating gun is a very common and popular method of application. The coating is applied and cured at a specific temperature and, after that, needs cooling.
The electrostatic powder coating gun includes a delivery system and a charging system.
What is electrostatic powder coating, and how does it work?
The powder coating is available in different types of colors and textures and offers excellent performance and durability. These coatings are based on the system of polymer resin that is combined with materials like curatives, flow modifiers, pigments, agents for leveling, and additives.
These ingredients are usually mixed together. The mixture is cooled down and, then it is finally turned into powder form. The process is actually very similar to baking flour. A certain process is known as the ESD, or electrostatic spray disposition is used to achieve the right application of powder coating on a substance that is made of metal.
This method of application uses a gun, which can apply the electrostatic charge into those small particles of the powder, and then attract them to the grounded area. After applying the powder coating, those parts are put into the oven for curing, where the coating reacts chemically with heat and produces molecular chains. High cross-link density is the final result of the entire process.
Those molecular chains do not break down easily, and thus this process is used for applying powder coatings. The powder coatings can also be applied on surfaces that are non-metallic, like medium density fibreboard or MDF and plastics. No matter what type of surface you have, the electrostatic powder coating gun is cost-effective, easy to handle, and really tough.
Therefore, an electrostatic powder coating gun is the best equipment for applying durable coatings on different surfaces.
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