News | What Is Powder Coating? | A How To Powder Coat Resource

Want to be an “instant expert” when talking about the ins and outs of prepping parts for powder coating? If so, you’ll need to understand the concepts that are commonly used when discussing cleaning and priming parts. Here are some key terms you need to know:

Displacement—This can refer to any situation where something is moved, such as when grease is moved off of the surface of a part by pressure washing.

Mechanical Action—This term describes processes that produce displacement, such as blasts of air out of spray nozzles or brushes rubbing against a part.

Wetting—Any process that loosens dirt and grime as a result of soaking the part (and the soil) in a liquid solution.

Dispersion—Reducing the concentration of a contaminant, typically so that it can be removed from a part.

Emulsification—The natural dispersion of two opposite elements. Think oil and water.

Neutralization–This term typically refers to using an alkali compound to break down oil or grease.

Iron phosphatizing—A popular process where the surface of metal parts being treated reacts with a phosphatizing compound to form an insoluble, non-metallic coating that remains on the surface of the parts.

Sequestration—Any technique that keeps different solutions of water and chemicals separated to prevent contamination.

RO—An abbreviation for “reverse osmosis,” which is typically used to describe a filtration process that produces very pure water. The water can be used to rinse parts without risking contamination by waterborne minerals or debris.

If you would like more general information on powder coating, please visit Whatispowdercoating.com for definitions, business tips and more. For more information on powder coating equipment, please visit us at Reliant Finishing Systems. Reliant is the leading U.S. manufacturer of powder coating equipment, able to provide full systems with powder coating ovens, spray booths, media blast enclosures, wash stations, engineered systems and custom manufacturing.

Water quality can have a big impact on cleaning/pre-treatment operations. Particles in the water will inhibit vital chemical reactions, leave unwanted residue on parts or produce soap scum or scaling in the rinse cycles. Water that is overly soft or hard can also produce adverse effects, and water quality can contribute to flash-rusting after cleaning.

It also important to use the right quantity of water for the job. Too little water may mean an inefficient use of chemicals, leaving residues on parts and driving up costs. Too much water is environmentally unfriendly and may use too much chemical, also driving costs upward.

Have your water tested and go over the results with a qualified chemical supplier or engineer specializing in water treatment. Your quality control will be solid from the start. You will produce cleaner parts and save money in the process.

To get the absolute best performance from your powder coating system, you must properly clean every part before it is coated.

Why?The short answer is that if you cut corners your work will show it. Without proper surface preparation, any type of soil (oils, polymers, dirt, metal bits, soaps, etc.) left on a part will compromise the coating in a variety of ways. Bubbling, streaking, flaking and reduced durability are just a few of the adverse effects of contamination that can ruin your coating – and are avoidable by cleaning. Prepping a part is essential to getting a good finish, but cleaning parts isn’t much fun and it is tempting to take shortcuts. Don’t!

Powder coated finishes are typically much tougher and longer lasting than conventional wet paint, but only if the part is prepared properly. Regardless of the part to be coated, large or small, it must be cleaned thoroughly for the powder media to work properly.

So what is “clean” in relation to powder coating?

From the Powder Coating Institute, “Cleaning is the removal of all organic and in organic soils from the surface to be coated.” We’ll examine some of the best ways to clean your items in future coating tips.

More info on powder coating

If you would like general information about powder coating, please visit Whatispowdercoating.com for definitions, business tips and more.

For more information on powder coating equipment, please visit us at Reliant Finishing Systems. Reliant is the fastest-growing manufacturer of powder coating equipment in the U.S., with products including powder coating ovens, powder spray booths, media blast enclosures, wash stations, and engineered systems.

Reliant Finishing Systems announced today that they have formalized an agreement with one of the powder coating equipment industry’s most experienced technicians, Mr. J.R. Stewart. Mr. Stewart will support Reliant’s popular line of powder coating booths and powder curing ovens for “batch” applications, as well as the company’s new line of automated systems. Mr. Stewart was previously the National Service Manager for Powder-X Coating Systems. The agreement will establish Mr. Stewart as a new point of contact for Reliant’s industrial, aerospace and automotive clients.

Mr. Stewart is enthusiastic about his relationship with Reliant. “I’m very excited about working with Reliant Finishing Systems. I’ve interacted with the company’s owners for many years. Even when we were competitors, I had a great deal of respect for their products and admired their approach to customer support. I’ve always focused on providing prompt service to my customers, day or night. As a Reliant employee, I will continue to help equipment buyers improve their productivity and reduce downtime,” he said.

Mr. Chris Davis, President of NorAM Inc., another U.S. manufacturer of finishing equipment, commented, “J.R. has been involved with our industry for quite some time. His level of experience with industrial ovens is probably unrivaled. He is well known for establishing cordial relationships with customers and doing more than just assisting them with technical issues. Mr. Stewart will be a real asset for Reliant.”

Mr. John Thomason, Reliant’s Executive Vice President, openly praised Mr. Stewart, “Due in part to Reliant’s rapid growth, we needed to improve the customer support system we had in place. We were familiar with J.R. from his involvement with Powder-X. As the manufacturer of most of the booths and ovens sold under the Powder-X brand from 2005 to 2008, we had a chance to work closely with Mr. Stewart and evaluate his knowledge and technical savvy first hand. He commissioned countless coating systems during that period and showed a combination of skill and tireless determination that was very commendable. When we got the opportunity to work with him as an employee, we took action right away.”

Mr. Michael Schuerer, President of Reliant Finishing Systems, stated that the new relationship will assure customers of excellent support after the sale and instantly improve the company’s technical capabilities. “Mr. Stewart is unique in that he has worked with literally hundreds of coating systems during his career. I believe that he has personally commissioned more powder curing ovens than anyone in the business. As a result of his experience, he has compiled an extensive amount of information about powder coating equipment and processes.” He added, “Mr. Stewart has a skill set that will help set Reliant apart from our competitors. His insight will enable our clients to make confident decisions about equipment calibration, maintenance, upgrades and repairs. Mr. Stewart will assist our technical support staff and help with the layout and design of our automated systems. J.R. will work directly with end-customers as well as our growing network of distributors.”

Reliant’s dry-off ovens, powder curing ovens, and powder coating spray booths will be commissioned and supported by Mr. Stewart. He will also offer site surveys, system evaluations, and technical service for blast rooms, wash booths, pre-treatment stations, and other powder coating equipment.

Reliant Finishing To Attend Fabtech Expo

Interested in powder coating? Need to expand your product offerings, or bring your finishing needs in-house? Visit booth #3619 at the Fabtech Expo in Chicago, IL, November 14th – 17th. Reliant Finishing Systems, the sponsors of whatispowdercoating.com, will be on-hand to answer all your coating systems needs. Feel free to stop by and discuss any and all of your powder coating related questions.

Visit www.fabtechexpo.com for more information.

What Is Powder Coating.com is now online, with articles on the basics of powder coating, common terms, and why powder coating is growing in this sluggish economy. Articles on the how to powder coat basics and different powder coating finishes in the work and will be available soon.

Reliant Finishing Systems announced today that they have expanded their commitment to going “green” with a program that involves significant revisions to the company’s packaging methods. The plan, known as the Reliant “Green Aware Initiative,” focuses on a new method of crating the equipment manufactured by the company. It will dramatically decrease the amount of lumber being used and replace it with recyclable scrap material.