Despite what you may have heard, all powders are not created equal. On a chemical level, some compositions perform better than others against certain environmental criteria; for example, you wouldn’t use the same powder coating on car rims as you would on a product that’s never going to leave the house. As such, it’s important that you know the final use before choosing an enhanced powder coating. Without further ado, let’s take a look at five different types of professional powder coating options and what they’re most commonly used for.
- Epoxy: In terms of appearance, epoxy coatings are very smooth and uniform. Though they offer excellent adhesion and are strongly resistant to chemicals and corrosion, they are primarily used for indoor products. This is because they can only withstand minimal UV exposure, and tend to fade and chalk up if over-exposed.
- Polyester: Comparatively, polyester powders offer strong adhesion properties and excellent gloss retention when exposed to UV rays. They have strong weathering characteristics, but lower chemical resistance; they are often used on fencing and outdoor decorative furniture.
- Nylon: Nylon powders are primarily used for protection. They off strong resistance to a wide range of solvents and oils, and can stand up to damage caused by impact and abrasion. Since one-third of industrial parts are powder coated and see a lot of wear-and-tear, nylon is a good choice in industrial applications.
- Polyurethane: The versatility of polyurethane powders allows them to be used for both decorative and function products that experience exterior exposure. Their strong weathering characteristics — combined with a quality anti-corrosion performance, a resistance to humidity and a range of chemicals and oils — makes them ideal in such instances.
- Metallic: If you’re looking for a highly attractive visual appearance but don’t want to sacrifice strength and durability, you can use metallic coatings. They aren’t strictly their own unique category; metallic particles are simply added to a variety of other powder compositions.
With so many professional finishing options at your disposal, making a choice can be difficult. First, you must decide whether you want to use liquid coatings, powder coatings, or liquid powder coatings and then move on to selecting the right one for the job. Take the time to find the right enhanced powder coating for your professional needs and you won’t be disappointed.