What is polymer powder painting

Powder painting with polymer has grown in popularity among pros and do-it-yourselfers. This method, in contrast to conventional liquid paint, applies a dry powder to surfaces, which is heated to produce an even, long-lasting coating.

Because of its strength and durability, this process is great for areas that require additional protection. Polymer powder painting provides a smooth, polished finish that outlasts many other paint types, whether you’re working on metal, wood, or other materials.

As you investigate this method, you’ll discover that it’s not only useful but also less harmful to the environment than traditional paints, producing fewer emissions. Let’s examine polymer powder painting in more detail and see why it might be the ideal choice for your upcoming project.

What is a polymer coating

The technological process of polymer painting is intricate and needs specialized tools. Paint is first made as a powder in various colors that is sprayed onto metal with an electric current. The paint then binds to the metal at the molecular level when the metal is heated to a high temperature.

This paint is unmatched in terms of strength and durability; the only downside is the high cost of application, which is particularly problematic given that it is impossible to apply at home.

To avoid being ill-founded, let us examine the primary competitive advantages of this material that set it apart from other paints:

• Maximum adhesion to metal surfaces. The paint does not just cover the product, but binds to it and becomes one whole.
• Durability. The guaranteed service life of polymer paint is 50 years, but of course, subject to compliance with all technological aspects during the application process.
• Moisture resistance. Polymer dyes today cover not only decorative metal products, but also the bottoms of the car, and even the boats.
• Stability to ultraviolet. The painted product can constantly be under the scorching rays of the sun, and this will not affect its decorative qualities.
• External attractiveness. The polymer coating has a characteristic appearance that you will not confuse with any paint. Something similar turns out when working with hammer enamels, but they are significantly inferior to polymer in quality.
• High resistance to mechanical damage. Even after significant deformation of the metal, the paint remains on the surface and does not get off.
• Resistance to chemical solvents. It is very difficult to remove the polymer coating, since no washes or solvents take it even after long-term contact, the paint will not lose not only its characteristic properties, but also its external qualities.

It’s thought that the world is devoid of perfect materials. Indeed, this is accurate; however, polymer paint has achieved the closest approximation to this definition. Furthermore, these are not merely platitudes or marketing speak.

Now that the properties of the coating have been worked out, we can proceed to discussing the required tools and application technology. However, before doing so, we ask that you watch the video in this article, which provides guidance on how to work with polymer dyes.

Using dry powder rather than liquid paint, polymer powder painting is a contemporary coating technique that leaves a smooth and long-lasting finish on a variety of surfaces. The powder is applied electrostatically and then heated to cure it, creating a thick, uniform layer that is impervious to fading, scratches, and rust. Because it uses fewer hazardous solvents and generates less waste, it is an environmentally friendly choice.

Equipment for applying polymers

In addition to a paint-spraying spray gun, polymer painting equipment consists of multiple specially designed chambers (see How to Make a Powder Coating Oven at Home). It should be noted that certain artisans put the chambers together by hand; a comprehensive tutorial on this process can be found on our website.

Because of this, we will focus only on the key characteristics and functions of each component that is utilized when working with polymer paints, omitting to discuss the internal organization in detail.

Spray gun

First things first: this is not the place for a standard spray gun—that is, one used for applying liquid paint. Among the many features of a polymer spray gun’s design are its high pressure, dry paint-spraying capability, and electric current supply.

Here, the magnetic induction principle is applied. similar to arc welding apparatuses. In other words, when the paint is applied, a positive charge is applied to the paint because the paint tank is connected to the positive cable.

Consequently, the object that is being painted is associated with the "mass," or the negative. Consequently, the same induction that unites the steel and polymer molecules is created when paint particles strike the surface.

Crucial! The reason powder polymer paints can only be applied to metal products that conduct electricity is due to magnetic induction technology. This paint is not suitable for painting ceramics, wood, or plastic.

Such a spray gun can cost several hundred thousand rubles, and painting prices are determined by the cost of the equipment (see. How to select a spray gun with confidence). However, the cost of the polymer coating is not too high considering its quality attributes, especially considering that it won’t need to be renewed or restored during its whole service life.

It is also important to observe how quickly paint is applied. The application of the polymer is extremely slow, and because it is applied in three layers, the painting process takes a very long time even with the high compression power of the spray gun.

Painting chamber

A paint booth is a contained space with specialized tools used to apply polymers.

These are its main components:

• Sealed doors that prevent dust from getting inside.
• Bright lamps placed not only under the ceiling, but also on the walls and even the floor.
• Forced exhaust hoods. They remove possible dust particles from the room and take away paint that did not get on the product.
• Catching filters. They leave paint particles drawn in by the hood on their surface, which can then be reused.

Naturally, custom-built chambers placed in tiny, private workshops seldom live up to the expectations. This is generally a hygienic space with adequate lighting and ventilation. Here, it’s critical that the product be free of foreign particles, so the painting area needs to be as hygienic as a hospital ward.

Crucial! Up to 5% of the polymer that went on the product during painting can be retained by catching filters in factory paint chambers. Therefore, keep in mind that filters can drastically lower the cost of expensive powder paint if you intend to build your own chamber.

Equitable lighting is just as crucial as the exhaust hood. The master needs to be able to see every detail of paint application clearly while working. The quality of the entire coating will suffer if there is even one area that is left unpainted. This is particularly crucial when applying varnish because it is much harder to see weak spots and has no color.

Curing chamber

Those who are not familiar with the complexities of working with polymer dyes find it difficult to understand how the powder becomes a hard coating. As you can see, the polymer isn’t diluted with any thinners even during the painting process.

And polymerization is the process of transformation. Additionally, it takes place in specialized thermal chambers that are preheated to a specific temperature and maintained there for the necessary length of time.

The paint layer determines the chamber’s heating level and holding period; for ease of use, we’ll present this procedure as a little visual table:

Despite the lengthy and intricate nature of the polymerization process—as you can see—some artisans construct these chambers by hand. There is nothing difficult here, in theory. Achieving sealing and being able to increase the temperature by more than 200 degrees is crucial.

The steps involved in creating a polymerization chamber are as follows:

Heating components sensors and control systems for temperature manual exhaust that is forced Frame of the chamber Insulation on walls Completed room

Crucial! Under no circumstances should the chamber doors be opened during the paint baking process. The product’s need to go through a full heating cycle and cool down naturally without experiencing any abrupt temperature changes ultimately impacts how long painting takes.

After taking a look at the polymer powder coating equipment, we now need to go over the application procedure.

A contemporary option that provides a long-lasting, superior finish for a range of surfaces is polymer powder painting. Because it doesn’t emit any hazardous solvents into the atmosphere, it stands out for its advantages for the environment. This technique produces a strong, uniform coating with little waste, making it both efficient and effective.

Polymer powder painting is a dependable option whether you’re trying to prevent corrosion on metal surfaces or just want a bright, durable color. Because of its versatility and abundance of color and finish options, it can be used for both decorative and industrial purposes.

Ultimately, selecting polymer powder painting entails selecting a method that blends robustness, ecological responsibility, and visual appeal. It’s a clever method to guarantee that your surfaces will continue to look fantastic and be protected for many years.

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