Powder coating is a popular dry finishing process. Currently, it represents more than 15% of the total industrial finishing market. When it comes to painting and finishing, powder coating is an increasingly popular choice for many industries.
Finding the best powder coating for a job can be a process, so let’s look at some of the options available in a little more detail. Not only will this help you understand the differences between options, but it will also allow you to decide which powder coating is right for your project.
Epoxies
When you think of powder coatings, epoxies probably spring to mind. The first widely-used powder coating, epoxies are impressively durable with some of the best corrosion resistance available. They adhere extremely well to metal and are invaluable as a primer or base coat. The downside to this sort of powder coating is that epoxies don’t tend to weather well, meaning they’re best suited for indoor applications. Don’t fret, though, there are plenty of other options to choose from that offer superior weathering properties.
Polyester
Due to its low cure temperature, polyester powder coating is a great option for sensitive items. It offers good chemical resistance, great impact resistance, and impressive flexibility. There aren’t many drawbacks to this workhorse of powder coatings, but know that TGIC-free polyesters do provide less overbake resistance and are a bit more susceptible to excess film thickness than standard polyesters.
Super Durable Polyester
Designed to hold color and gloss for between 5 and 10 years, this super durable sibling of standard polyester coating is fast becoming a favorite. Offering all the benefits of polyester powder coating with the added plus of better heat and corrosion resistance, it’s not hard to see why this is such a frontrunner in so many projects. With only minimal fading after years of exposure, super durable polyester is well worth considering.
Epoxy-Polyester Hybrid
An epoxy-polyester hybrid remains pretty close to a pure epoxy in most terms but offers much-improved weathering. These coatings are best for any project that requires good aesthetics and functional properties, as the addition of the polyester does reduce some of the epoxy’s corrosion and chemical resistance. Try to avoid this hybrid in the case of heavy exterior exposure, though, as that can still damage the finish.
As you can see, powder coatings are a great coating choice in general, and can be tailored to just about any project or product. The important thing to remember when choosing the best powder coating is that it’s not so much a question of what the best coating is, but rather a question of what the best coating is for this specific project. Indoor applications often benefit from the addition of epoxies, while super-durable polyester may become your go-to for most other applications.
The sky is the limit when it comes to powder coatings. Just make sure you consider all the angles before you commit to one over the others.