Powder coating is a method of painting products that uses a powdered plastic resin which is melted onto the part. At Gemtech, we coat both ferrous and nonferrous metals using "Electrostatic Spray" equipment.

How does the process work?

First, the part is washed with an alkaline solution, rinsed, pretreated with iron phosphate, and rinsed again. A chrome free conversion coating for architectural aluminum can be applied as a final step. Once the part has been pretreated it is dried in a dry off oven. The next step is the electrostatic application of the powder to the part. The powder is charged by an electrode which creates an ion cloud. The powder particles pass through this cloud and picks up a negative charge. Since the parts are ground to the conveyor there is an electrostatic attraction of the powder particle to the part. The parts now enter the curing oven where the powder melts, cross links, and bonds to the surface of the part. Once the parts exit the oven and cool the finish is complete.

What types of coatings are available?

Powder is available in a wide variety of formulations, textures, gloss levels, and colors. Common formulations applied at Gemtech include; epoxy, hybrid, urethane, polyester, and silicones. Depending on the performance criteria of your specific parts, we will be happy to help you pick the proper formulation for your application.

Are Custom Colors available?

Virtually any color, texture, and gloss level can be custom matched. Due to the process involved in manufacturing the powder resin, custom colors can be expensive unless the requirement is large. Minimum custom powder orders can range between $800 and $1,200. Typical lead times for custom matches can range anywhere from two to six weeks depending on market conditions.

What are the lead times for coating my product?

Our goal at Gemtech is to complete your product and have it ready for shipment within 2 days of receiving your material. Depending on the availability of the materials required to process your order, lead times may vary.

What are some of the benefits of powder coating?

Powder coating is an extremely attractive, durable, scratch resistant, chemical resistant, and UV resistant coating. Depending on the specific formulation applied, each of these properties will vary. In general, epoxies exhibit good mechanical properties but fare poorly in direct sun light. Urethanes and polyesters exhibit excellent weatherability. Silicones exhibit excellent resistance to heat. Unlike most liquid coatings there are no solvents to evaporate in the powder coating process. This makes powder coating environmentally friendly since only negligible amounts of VOC's are released into the air.

• Parts are cured within minutes of exiting the oven.
• Powder coating provides superior edge coverage.
• Part to part color consistency is held to a delta 0.5 which is not visible to the naked eye.
• Since powder coated parts virtually have no drips, runs, or sags, the reject rate is very low.
• No paint sludge has to be disposed of because powder can be reclaimed and recycled, thus minimizing the impact on the environment.

For More Information Contact:

Gemtech, Inc at (714) 848-2517 or send us E-Mail to info@gemtechinc.com

The Powder Coating Institute at 1-800-988-COAT or http://www.powdercoating.org.

Finishing.com at http://finishing.com

Products Finishing at http://www.pfonline.com