Powder coating is a new type of solvent-free, 100% solid powder coating. It features solvent-free operation, no pollution, energy and resource savings, reduced labor intensity, and high mechanical strength of the coating film.
It falls into two main categories: thermoplastic powder coatings (PE) and thermosetting powder coatings.
Disadvantages: uneven powder application at edges and corners, difficulty in concealing defects in the cured film, and high curing requirements.
There are many classification standards, and the names of various powders on the market are inconsistent.
Based on the properties of the film-forming substance, it can be divided into two main categories: thermoplastic powder coatings (PE) and thermosetting powder coatings.
Alternatively, it can be classified by the appearance of the film-forming substance: matte, high-gloss, artistic, etc. It can also be classified by the application environment: indoor and outdoor.
1. Applications of Powder Coatings
The largest growth areas in my country's powder coating market are the shipbuilding and pipeline industries. The existing problems are that impact resistance and moisture absorption need to be improved, and researchers are focusing their efforts on modifying various base materials. Domestically produced epoxy powder coatings for pipeline corrosion protection still lag behind high-quality foreign products in terms of storage stability and application properties.
Due to advancements in foreign automotive powder coating technology, automotive clear coats, wood coatings, and plastic coatings represent the most dynamic potential markets. The automotive industry will be a major consumer, with strong growth momentum in the powder coating markets of Greece, Turkey, and Eastern Europe. The Asia-Pacific region has even greater market potential and is considered the fastest-growing region globally.
2. Powder Coating Manufacturing Process
Coatings are made by mixing special resins, pigments, fillers, curing agents, and other additives in specific proportions, followed by processes such as hot extrusion, crushing, and sieving. They are stable at room temperature and can be applied by electrostatic spraying, friction spraying (thermosetting method), or fluidized bed dip coating (thermoplastic method), followed by heating and baking to melt and cure, forming a smooth, glossy, permanent coating film to achieve decorative and corrosion-resistant purposes.
Advantages of Powder Coatings and Reasons for Their Market Popularity:
2.1 Health and Environmental Protection
Powder coatings eliminate the need for various harmful liquid chemical additives such as film-forming agents, dispersants, wetting agents, leveling agents, and anti-corrosion and anti-mildew agents added to achieve coating performance.
2.2 Convenient Transportation and Storage
Ordinary coatings contain approximately 20-50% water, while in powder coatings, this water is added only at the point of application. This means that this water component requires neither transportation nor storage. Furthermore, water-containing coatings often freeze and spoil when transported or stored at temperatures below 0°C, a problem not present in latex powder coatings.
2.3 No Preservatives Required
Traditional liquid coatings contain both water and a breeding ground for bacteria, making them susceptible to bacterial contamination. Therefore, preservatives are added to prevent spoilage. Latex powder coatings, however, do not have this bacterial contamination problem and do not require preservatives.
2.4 Coating Odor
Compared to the residual odor of traditional coatings, this coating dissipates very quickly, essentially eliminating odor immediately upon application.
