Additional testing has indicated that a thickness as low as 10 µm is achievable, although further work in this area is needed.Īchieving low viscosity during the melt phase was also a major aspect of the project.

The new powder coil coating has a very low particle size (D50) and can be applied at around 30-35 µm. Furthermore, thicker films can present an inhomogeneous thermal gradient inside the film during curing, leading to incomplete curing and defects in the final film. For the new powder coil coating to be competitive from an economic standpoint, the researchers knew that the applied thickness would need to be reduced substantially. As mentioned previously, coil coatings typically require a film thickness of 5 to 25 µm to achieve the optimum finished properties, while powder coatings are generally applied at thicknesses of 60 to 120 µm. The main advantages of coil coating are its fast cure time - approximately 25 seconds - and its ability to create an already-painted substrate that is flexible enough to fabricate parts.įilm Thickness and Viscosity Particle size plays an important role in the process. The paints that are used for this application are usually based on a thermoset system involving catalyzed chemical reactions at temperatures around 240☌. The total film thickness is around 5 to 25 µm, which allows for perfect color matching, surface hardness and transformation of the flat panel through bending or shaping without damage.

The paints used are liquid (solvent-based) and are generally composed of polyesters with acid- or hydroxy- endgroups able to crosslink with melamines or isocyanates to form a complete network with film properties that are tailored to the final application of the coated metal panel (building products, beverage cans, domestic appliances, etc.). Coil coating is a continuous industrial process in which multiple layers of organic film are applied and cured on a moving metal strip.Ĭoil coating is a continuous industrial process in which multiple layers of organic film are applied and cured on a moving metal strip (see Figure 1).

Bob isale powder coating