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Powder coat
Powder coating sprays dry, electrostatically charged powder onto a grounded, pretreated part and cures it in an oven at about 350–400 °F (180–200 °C). The result is a tough 2–4 mil (50–100 µm) film in almost any RAL or custom color, gloss and texture. Polyester powders suit outdoor use; epoxies suit indoor and chemical exposure. It releases almost no VOCs.
- Applies to
- Steel, stainless steel, aluminum, springs and wire forms, and zinc and aluminum die castings that tolerate the cure temperature
- Adds
- 5 days
- Cost
- Low
Colors
- Black (RAL 9005)
- White (RAL 9016)
- Light gray (RAL 7035)
- Anthracite (RAL 7016)
- Red (RAL 3020)
- Blue (RAL 5010)
- Custom RAL or Pantone match
Specs
| Film thickness | 2–4 mil (50–100 µm) typical; 1.5–6 mil range |
|---|---|
| Cure | 350–400 °F (180–200 °C) for 10–20 min |
| Pretreatment | Iron or zinc phosphate on steel; conversion coating on aluminum |
| Corrosion resistance | Commonly 500–1,000 h ASTM B117 over zinc phosphate on steel |
| Adhesion test | ASTM D3359 cross-hatch |
| Masking | Threads, grounding points and mating faces masked or plugged |
Call out on the drawing
- ASTM D3359 (adhesion)
- ASTM B117 (salt spray)
- ASTM D3363 (pencil hardness)
- AAMA 2603 / 2604 / 2605 (architectural aluminum)
Questions
How thick is powder coating?
Typically 2–4 mil (50–100 µm) per coat, several times thicker than most wet paint. Allow for it on mating faces, holes and threads, or have them masked.
Powder coat vs wet paint?
Powder is thicker, tougher, more chip resistant and nearly VOC-free, and it is usually the lower-cost choice for production steel and aluminum. Wet paint suits heat-sensitive substrates such as plastics, parts too large for a powder oven, thin films, and small-batch exact color matches.
Can powder coating be used outdoors?
Yes, with polyester or super-durable polyester powders. Epoxy powders chalk in sunlight and are for indoor use or as a primer. Architectural aluminum uses AAMA 2604 or 2605 rated systems for long-term color retention.
Does the powder coat cure affect heat-treated parts?
A 350–400 °F (180–200 °C) cure is safe for steel and most aluminum. It can slightly overage 7075-T6, and porous zinc or aluminum castings can outgas and pinhole. Low-cure powders near 300–320 °F (150–160 °C) and an outgassing preheat help.
Price it with this finish.
The builder adds lot charges, per-part cost and lead time for the finish you pick.