 Normaly, to apply a 'wet' Paint, solvents are required to allow the Paint to become a liquid thus allowing it to be applied to the object to be Painted the solvent also make the paint sticky, causing it to adhere to the surface.
With Powder Coating, only the Paint solids are sprayed onto the product, in an atomised powder form.
The Powder is drawn to the product and adheres to the product due to an electrostatic charge applied to the Powder during spraying.
The Product, thus covered with the Powder Paint is then heated (to around 200 degrees Centigrade) in an Oven, wherein the powder fuses (melts) on to the product and thus forms a smooth, tough and resilient coating.
What are the benefits or Powder Coating?
High Quality. Because the powder is fused onto the product, it has excellent scratch resistance properties. It also has a pleasing 'smooth' appearance and forms a sealed skin around the product thus minimising corrosion risk.
Recoverable. Unlike wet paint, 'Over spray' powders can be collected and re-used! When you consider that in any paint spraying system, only around 50% of the paint for powder) actually lards on the job, then large savings are clearly possible if the over spray can be re-used.
Simple Automation. Because powder is applied electrostatically, is fully recoverable and is easily cleaned away, powder is ideally suited to simple, automatic application thus minimising labour requirements.
One coat application. For most applications, a single thick powder application is quite possible. This eliminates the need for primers, multi-coat-wet painting and for rubbing down between coats.
Environment friendly with no Solvents. It is therefore, safer to use and more easily complies with all current and proposed environmental legislation.
What do you need to get Powder Coating?
Spraybooth: The first requirement of any Powder Coating System is a Spraybooth in which to apply the Powder. This serves a number of functions:
1) It ensures that oversprayed Powder is ventilated away from the Operator(s)
2) It provides extraction to prevent Powder escaping into the factory areas
3) It collects the Powder and can provide facility for reclaiming overspray Powder
Powder Booth Schematic Layout
Curing Oven : All Powders cure at high temperatures, usually between 160 and 220 Centigrade. Therefore an Oven is required to place the parts after they have been sprayed.
A number of types of Oven are available, including:
1) Box Type Ovens, into which the product may be wheeled or carried.
2) Conveyorised Ovens, whereby the product is hung from a motorised track which passes through the Oven.
Powder Spraying System:
The Powder Spraying System is the device that applies the Powder. This is often called the 'Powder Gun' and serves the following functions:
1) It has a system for storing new and recycled Powder, often this may be the Box in which the Powder is delivered from the supplier.
2) It fluidises the Powder i.e. it gently blows air into the Powder, effectively bestowing it with the characteristics of a liquid.
3) It has a nozzle system which allows the Powder to be blown onto the product.
4) It has an Electrostatic charging system which charges the Powder Particles causing them to be attracted to the part requiring coating. | 
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