Powder coating is a fine powder made of epoxy, polyester, polyurethane, or nylon, that is electrostatically applied to a metal or other material. Upon heating, the material crosslinks, and cools to form a durable, hard coating. Epoxy and polyester coatings offer a good, uniform appearance. Polyurethane powders provide a decorative and protective coating suitable for exterior use. Nylon is primarily used as a protective coating.
Industrial powder coating is typically done through a two-step process: first, the powder is applied to the part electrostatically, then the newly coated part is cured under the heat of an industrial powder coating oven, to form a hard-plastic coating. This process is very efficient since the powder is attracted like a magnet to the part via static charge, minimizing overspray and wasted powder. The static charge also attracts the powder into hidden areas of the part, ensuring thorough coverage. There are two different types of powder used for coating parts – Thermoset and Thermoplastic
Thermoset Powder
Thermoset powder is by far the most common type of powder coating. It provides a nice, finished look, and is very durable and cost effective. Thermoset powders chemically react during baking to form a crosslinked polymer that is extremely resistant to breakdown and wear. After curing in a powder coating oven, thermoset powder is permanently transformed into a hard plastic and cannot be melted by further heating.
Thermoplastic Powder
Unlike thermoset, thermoplastic powder does not permanently change during baking and will remelt if heated. This type of coating can be applied in very thick layers, and is found on refrigerator shelves or metal benches, for example, where appearance and cost is not as important as durability and longevity. Thermoplastic powders provide a functional, flexible, and durable coating for a variety of applications
Wisconsin Oven manufactures industrial powder coating ovens for both thermoset and thermoplastic powder. They also provide uniform air distribution along the entire length of the work chamber which avoids undercured or overcured areas, reducing rework and saving you time and money. Our powder curing ovens are specifically designed to prevent powder blow-off, resulting in high quality cured finishes and optimum cure cycles. They are factory adjusted and tested prior to shipment from our facility to help reduce installation and start-up times.
Our powder-coating oven configurations include reach-in, walk-in, and conveyorized designs, and are available in hundreds of sizes.
