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 [...]