In The Powder Coating Pretreatment Process, Various Methods May Be Needed.
As mentioned in a previous post, pretreatment of parts in a powder coating process is the key to a successful finish. When parts are properly prepared, the powder coating adheres as it should and creates a long-lasting, corrosion-resistant, protective layer.
One method for pretreatment is manually applying chemicals to the part. However, when throughput demands are high, an automated system will be a better solution. An automated pretreatment process consists of three to nine stages. In a simple three-step method, there’s a heat treatment step, a rinse step, and a sealant. A more complex system includes multiple heating and rinsing steps, and special sealants.
Removing Hard-To-Remove Contaminants
When the part has contaminants that are hard to remove, another step may be needed for cleaning parts. Blasting, also known as sandblasting or media blasting, this a mechanical cleaning method that uses high-velocity abrasive particles to clean and prepare a surface. Blasting removes contaminants, such as rust, old coatings, and minor surface defects. Blasting ensures an even surface for the coating and can also aid the adherence of the powder by creating a textured surface on the part.
Pretreatment can also consist of grinding, bristle blasting, and sanding. All of these methods eat away surface contaminants and prepare the surface for powder coating. Depending on the needs, different types of abrasive media can be used.
Booths for Blasting Processes
The blasting process is frequently isolated from other portions of the coating process. Production Systems supplies booths specifically for blasting systems. We design and build our booths to accommodate the type of media being used and to meet our customer’s specifications.
Contact Production Systems to learn more about the features and options available for our blasting and grinding booths.
