Lighting powder coating is a technique for applying a dry, solid film of polymeric particles to a substrate. Powder coatings are typically applied over an existing finish, such as paint or primer, and then cured under heat lamps. Powder coatings provide excellent corrosion protection and durability, and achieve vibrant colors, high gloss levels, and depths of color clarity. While strengthening the functionality of the lighting fixtures, it also adds more aesthetic feeling.
The Powder Coating Process
The powder coating process is a fairly simple one. First, the parts to be coated are cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, then degreased and dried with compressed air. The substrate is then pre-heated to the proper temperature before it’s dipped into an electrostatic bath where it’s sprayed with a thin layer of polyester or polyurethane powder followed by a liquid binder. The part goes back under high heat at this point in order for the powder and binder to fuse together on the surface. Once this has been accomplished (usually within two minutes), your part can be baked in an oven at 400°F (205°C) until it reaches its final hardness (usually around three hours).
Pretreatment for Powder
The most important step toward a successful powder coating is proper preparation of the surface. This process begins with cleaning your metal with a solvent or degreaser to remove any dirt or grease. Next, you’ll want to use a scrubbing pad to remove any remaining oil and grease from the surface before washing it with water, then drying it thoroughly before continuing with your powder coating process.
Powder Coating Stage
When you walk into the powder coating stage, you will see there are many different types of spray guns used for this process, but they all use high-velocity air streams to apply the powder. The air is forced through a nozzle that has been designed to produce a very fine atomized spray pattern. The size of these particles varies by the material being applied and the type of gun being used; however, they are typically small enough that they can be easily manipulated by wind currents in order to create an even coating on every surface being coated.
The powder coating process begins with the use of a spray gun to apply a primer coating to the object. The primer acts as an adhesive for the actual layer of powder that will be applied later on in the process. After this has been done, it is time for another spray gun to apply the actual layer of paint onto the object. This layer needs to be very thin so that it does not affect the appearance or function of whatever it is being applied on top of later on down the line (if you want something thicker than what might look good today).
Speaking of primer (white surface below is primer), some lighting products may not have primer, because it can save costs, and the surface will not be different for a while. However, the primer can significantly improve the adhesion and anti-corrosion function. Without the primer, no change can be seen in the short term, but the metal surface is prone to rust or paints peeling off after one year or even half a year. Moreover, Tonsda Lighting’s lighting fixtures are all attached with primer and passed the salt spray test to ensure the adhesion of the metal surface of the lamp.
Curing Stage
The curing stage is the final process in the powder coating process. This is where the powder will harden and adhere properly to your product, creating a solid finish. Curing can be done using an oven, or by using heat lamps. The length of time varies depending on how thick you’ve coated your material as well as how much moisture and oil content it has because this affects how quickly it dries out after being cured.
Precautions for powder coating
The powder coating has very strict requirements in terms of process and quality, so there are many details that need to be paid attention to during processing.
- When performing pre-treatment operations, both temperature and water washing must be carefully controlled and grasped, and there should be no water droplets on the surface of the drying operation;
- Before spraying powder carefully blows every piece of metal with a high-pressure air pipe to ensure that the surface of the material body is flat and smooth. Any burrs, particles, etc. need to be polished with sandpaper, and the presence of grease also needs to be cleaned with a solvent;
- The curing furnace also needs special attention. Keep the curing furnace clean and dust-free to prevent it from adhering to the surface of the profile and affecting the overall spraying of the profile. In addition, because there are many colors in the spray paint, it must be paid attention to cleanliness.
Substrate Material Considerations
The substrate material you choose will influence the appearance and performance of your finished powder coating system. Your choice must be based on a thorough understanding of the following:
- Cleanliness and free of grease, oil, and dirt
It is important to ensure that your substrates are completely free of moisture, as well as grease, oil, and dirt before they are coated with Tonsda Lighting Powder Coatings. Any residue on the surface can cause imperfections in the finish or poor adhesion during bonding.
- Flatness and smoothness
In order for an effective bond to be achieved between the paint layer(s) and the substrate it is necessary that both be flat enough to achieve a proper contact area between them. While some degree of curvature may occur during application due to shrinkage from wetting out water-based coatings (if applied in layers), this should not exceed 0.5% overall bend in any direction (per ASTM B-747 standard). Otherwise poor adhesion may result when applying topcoat layers with solvent-based systems such as epoxies or urethanes, which require good contact between painter’s roller/knife strokes across entire surfaces, where curing occurs between two separate coatings (topcoats).
Benefits of Powder Coatings
Powder coating is a great choice for many applications because it’s durable, low maintenance, and low cost. It’s easy to repair and can be applied in a wide variety of finishes. Powder coatings are also more environmentally friendly than other types of coatings because they do not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This means you can apply multiple layers of powder coatings without exceeding VOC levels set by law.
Powder coating can be used on a variety of materials including plastics, metals, and wood products. The application of these materials also requires attention to some matters, such as:
- Metals may require special pretreatment before applying the powder coating;
- Plastics will absorb moisture from the air over time causing them to become brittle;
- Wood products must be treated with an oil or wax prior to applying the powder coating (this helps make sure that they don’t absorb moisture).
Overview of Lighting Powder Coating.
Tonsda Lighting Powder Coating is a professional painting process that uses high-quality materials to ensure a long-lasting finish. The powder coating process is often used on metal items such as iron and brass, but it can also be used on other materials like plastic or wood. This method of finishing is often preferred over traditional paint because it provides a more durable finish at an affordable price on lighting fixtures’ surfaces. No maintenance is required over its lifetime if well maintained regularly cleaned kept out of direct sunlight, etc.
The powder coating process begins with the pretreatment of the part being coated. This step can include cleaning, surface preparation and even filling of cracks or holes in the surface. Once the part has been prepared, it is then dipped into an electrostatic paint applicator where it is sprayed with a thin layer of powder resin and then baked at high temperatures. This process continues until the desired thickness is achieved. Every process during the period requires us to pay enough patience and care to achieve high quality and meet customer requirements.
