Although powder coating technology saw slow innovations in 2020, many of the pre-Covid programs that were slowed during the pandemic are now in full swing. The result is an influx of great new advancements in powder coating technology.
Low Temperature Cure
One of the most popular advancements has been that of low temperature cures. These innovations make it possible for powders to be capable of meeting high durability standards such as those set forth by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association. To meet these quality standards, a coating must pass certain tests. They must pass testing in the areas of dry adhesion, wet adhesion, boiling water adhesion, impact resistance, abrasion resistance, and others.
Colors
Other advancements include expanding the color capabilities of powder coatings. As more and more customers asked can you get a chrome look from powder coating and can you get matte colors with powder coating, manufacturers are rising to the occasion with new color options.
Sustainability
As more and more individuals and industries focus on sustainability, it has become imperative that powder coating technology take the necessary steps in this direction as well. A great deal of advancement has been made in the area of sustainable raw materials that are used in the development of powder coatings. Although sustainability is sometimes elusive to define, powder coating developers are working hard to create a working definition that can be used in ongoing applications.
Under certain sustainability definitions, low temperature cure powder coating can fall under the umbrella of sustainable products because it uses less energy and ultimately creates a smaller carbon footprint. Any powder coating that carries greater durability can be classified as sustainable because the need for replacing or re-coating in the future is decreased.
Another example of sustainability advancement in the industry of powder coating included biobased and recycled raw materials. A great example of this particular advancement can be seen in the new Sherwin-Williams product: Powdura ECO Hybrid Coatings. The polyester resin that is used in the coating is made of 25% pre-consumer plastic. Over time, this can significantly impact the amount of raw materials that would be used for coating if the technology is adopted by other manufacturers as well.
The company boasts that this type of coating is easy to apply, has a wide cure capacity at a significant temp range, and also aligns with third-party certifications that help to define sustainability in the industry. One such third-party entity is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED. Another is GreenGuard and of course the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association.
Through the combined efforts of third-party certifiers and manufacturers dedicated to continued sustainability efforts, the powder coating industry is well on its way to playing a significant role in environmental sustainability. This is by far one of the most important tech advancements in recent history.
This is significant as the powder coating industry has in the past often been blamed as a culprit in many environmentally harmful ways. It is the hope that this can be changed in the near future through continued tech advancements.