Powder coating or powder coating technology seem to be quite popular phrases in today's life. With the ability to create beautiful and durable paint surfaces, powder coating technology has become popular and widely applied on industrial products as well as office furniture products. In this article, let's learn more about powder coating technology and the advantages and limitations of this technology with Epione!
What is powder coating technology?
Powder coating is a process of painting metal surfaces using static electricity to attract paint powder to the metal surface, creating a strong bond. Because according to the principle of positive charge (+) will always be attached to negative charge (-), it will create a layer of paint that adheres tightly and evenly across the metal surface.
The process of performing electrostatic painting can be summarized as follows:
Step 1: Prepare the metal surface
The metal surface needs to be cleaned and coated with an anti-rust coating to ensure that it will withstand the powder coating process.
Step 2: Electrostatic powder coating
Powder coating is created by mixing positively and negatively charged paint particles, which are then applied to the powder coater. When electricity is applied, the paint particles are attracted to the metal surface to form a coating.
Step 3: Paint baking
Once the paint is applied to the metal surface, it needs to be baked at high temperatures to create a hard and durable paint layer.
In 1945, Daniel Gustin invented the electrostatic painting technology and was patented by the United States at that time. Up to now, this technology has been continuously developed and improved to meet the increasing demands of the manufacturing market. Currently, there are many different types of powder coatings used for electrostatic painting technology such as: those made from epoxy resin, polyester, polyurethane and acrylic.
Advantages and disadvantages of powder coating technology
After more than 70 years of formation and development, electrostatic painting technology has been widely applied in modern life. However, each technology has certain advantages and disadvantages, electrostatic painting technology is no exception.
1. Advantages of powder coating technology
a. Increase the durability and beauty of the product
Thanks to the process of spraying paint and surface treatment of the product before painting, products using electrostatic painting technology have more durability and beautiful appearance than other painting methods.
Before painting, the product surface is thoroughly cleaned to remove impurities. Then, the product will be treated with chemicals to increase the adhesion of the paint layer. This process helps the paint adhere firmly to the product surface, creating a durable and highly adhesive paint layer. From there, it has better scratch and corrosion resistance, helping to increase the product's lifespan. The electrostatic powder coating has a high and uniform gloss, without revealing paint marks, contributing to increasing the aesthetic value of the product.
b. Environmentally friendly and cost-effective
In the traditional painting process, chemical solvents are often used to help the paint spray easily and dissolve additives. However, these substances often pollute the environment and are harmful to human health. Meanwhile, powder coating technology does not use any chemical solvents, which helps to minimize the risk of pollution and protect the environment.
In addition, the electrostatic spraying process allows the reuse of excess paint from the previous spraying process. As a result, the use of paint becomes more economical and efficient, helping to reduce the amount of wasted paint and reduce the amount of waste that pollutes the environment.
Thus, powder coating technology is an environmentally friendly painting method, helping to minimize the negative impact of the production process on the environment, while enhancing the protection of human health and the community.
c. Easy to do
Powder coating technology is considered a simple and easy-to-implement painting method compared to traditional painting methods for a number of reasons such as:
First, electrostatic spray equipment is often simple in design, easy to use and easy to maintain. Using these equipment also does not require technicians with special experience and skills, saving time and training costs.
Second, the electrostatic painting process is more successful and less prone to errors than traditional painting methods. The use of static electricity to create suction helps the paint adhere to the surface of the product, while also creating a more even and smooth paint layer as mentioned above.
Finally, the powder coating process can be automated to increase production productivity. Powder coating equipment can be connected to automation systems in the production process, saving employees time and effort, while increasing productivity and product quality.
Powder coating technology is considered a simpler painting method than traditional methods because the paint spraying equipment is simple and easy to use.
2. Disadvantages of powder coating technology
a. High initial investment cost
Setting up a powder coating system requires a large initial investment, especially when purchasing powder coating equipment and related equipment. With small production scale, investing in powder coating machinery can become a pressure for businesses.
In addition, the use of electrostatic painting technology requires special conditions such as painting environment and humidity. Therefore, sometimes the renovation or construction of a suitable paint room can cause higher investment costs.
b. Difficult to change color
One of the disadvantages of powder coating technology is that it is difficult to change the color of a painted product. Because the process requires uniformity throughout the painting process, changing the color can be more difficult and complicated than with other painting methods. If you want to change the color of a product, you need to strip the paint and use new powder paint.
c. Not suitable for some products
Powder coating technology is not suitable for all types of products. It may not be effective and does not guarantee the quality of paint on some products with difficult-to-stick or too small surfaces. Products with small porous surfaces, such as wire mesh, some types of metal wire, or products with complex shapes such as phone cases or electronic components may have difficulty in the powder coating process.
Application of powder coating technology in furniture manufacturing
1. Door production (door frame)
Doors are an important and indispensable part of a construction project. With the main function of ensuring safety and privacy, doors are often made of durable materials such as metal (iron, steel, aluminum), wood, etc. Since the advent of powder coating technology, it has been widely used in the construction and implementation of door frames and doors for projects.
Normally, doors are exposed to direct impacts as well as sunny and rainy weather. When coated with electrostatic paint, the product not only increases durability but also has an eye-catching appearance, the paint layer is more even than when painted manually.
2. Production of tables, chairs, cabinets and shelves
It seems that tables, chairs, cabinets and shelves are the most basic furniture of a living space, a working space. Tables and chairs can be made from many different materials such as wood, stainless steel, plastic, etc. However, to ensure a surface with a beautiful, smooth texture and easy to clean, manufacturers "favor" them with a layer of electrostatic paint to reinforce the table and chair products.
The electrostatic painting method is applied to the Essentials collection to increase durability, limit scratches and ensure the aesthetics of the products.[/caption]
Today, powder coating technology has been able to give manufacturers and users more color options to the effects that products have when coated with powder coating.
In Epione's newly launched Essentials collection in March 2023, powder coating technology has also been applied to office furniture products to create products that are highly appreciated for their quality, in order to bring the best experience to users.
3. Manufacturing equipment and household appliances
Powder coating technology is also used in the production of household products such as refrigerators, folding chairs, kitchen utensils, etc. Powder coating creates a smooth, even and durable paint layer, helping to protect the surface of the product from scratches, impacts and external impacts during daily use.
IKEA is a brand that applies electrostatic painting technology to many furniture products and household appliances. (Source: IKEA)
In general, powder coating technology is a widely used painting method in many industries and in family life. With outstanding advantages in terms of durability, eye-catching appearance, environmental safety, etc., powder coating technology is increasingly popular and developed. Epione has also applied powder coating technology to make details of ergonomic chairs , lifting tables , and monitor stands and has received many positive feedbacks from customers. Hopefully, the article has provided you with general information and helped you somewhat evaluate the products that are applying powder coating technology today.
