If someone told you that spraying metal with powder and baking it on were able to make an object more resistant to wear and tear, you might look at them like they just told you magic was real. It can be a little unbelievable when it’s put in such simple terms, but this is exactly the idea behind powder coating in Preston, WA—the principle is the same, but the process is a bit more intense and requires more of an explanation than “magic.”
So how exactly is powder coating able to make something more resilient, you ask? Well, by breaking down the process a bit, we’re able to get a closer look as to what’s actually happening when you’re powder coating something and why the process results in metals that can stand up to abrasion better and more resistant to abuse.
Protect and preserve
First things first: powder coating doesn’t simply mean that you’re spraying on powder that’s going to stick to your metal object and make it indestructible—powder coating makes the object more resistant to abuse; it doesn’t add “strength.” To add strength you’d need to temper an object or heat treat it—powder coating in Preston, WA deals with protecting the surface of the metal you’re choosing to treat.
The protection you’re getting from a powder coating isn’t a strengthening agent, but it does have properties of its own that can preserve the condition of metal for longer. Think about it at a molecular level—if agents like rust can’t penetrate the façade of a metal object, they’re not able to take root and destroy it. In this way, powder coating is able to preserve your metal objects in its own way.
The process itself
So, what about the process makes powder coating an effective way to protect metals and bolster their resilience? The secret can be observed in the reaction that takes place during the coating process:
- Powder is coated onto the metal via an electrostatic adhering process, which means that the powder itself is electrically charged when it attaches to the metal. This is important because it represents the first phase of the chemical reaction that takes place.
- Once an even layer of powder is coated over the metal object, it’s then baked at high heat to cure the powder. This is where the chemical reaction truly gets into full swing! The electrically charged powder begins to melt together and form a sort of resin, which remains completely adhered to the metal itself.
Because the entire coating process happens at a molecular level, the final coating that’s melted onto the metal also happens at a molecular level, ensuring complete protection in all places that it’s applied. What’s more, the final hard resin that’s left by the melted powder is incredibly strong, as it has undergone a chemical reaction and released energy that has solidified it to its deepest hardness, thereby protecting the metal item itself from abuse and abrasions!