Powder coating is a process used to coat metal objects or parts to provide them with a protective layer resistant to wear and tear. It is often used for aluminium because of its many advantages, such as corrosion and abrasion resistance, improved durability, and increased aesthetic appeal. The benefits of powder coating aluminium will be discussed further below.
What is powder coating?
Powder coating is a polyester-based coating that uses accurately sized polyester microbeads that have an electrostatic charge that enables them to adhere to base materials. When heated, these polyester microbeads form a hard coating that can be customised with regard to colours and finishes.
Powder coating materials take on two forms:
Thermoplastics: These are high-performance coating materials which offer a wide range of chemical and physical properties, such as flexibility, durability, impact resistance, gloss retention and colour stability.
Thermosets: These are usually epoxy or polyurethane base powders which are more versatile compared to thermoplastics but provide less predictable results due to the mixture’s varying degree of reactivity.
Why powder coat aluminium?
Aluminium is used in a variety of industries, including automotive and aerospace, due to its lightweight and strong properties. However, its surface can be vulnerable to rust and corrosion if not treated properly. Powder coating aluminium provides an extra layer of protection against these elements, as well as wear and tear. This protective layer can last for many years with minimal maintenance. Additionally, powder coating gives the aluminium a better finish than traditional paint would, offering an array of colours and finishes that are more resistant to fading and chipping.
Benefits of powder coating aluminium:
- Protection against corrosion and wear
- Increased durability: Powder coated aluminium can last for many years with minimal maintenance
- Aesthetic appeal: provides an even and aesthetically pleasing finish
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Cost-effective: powder coating is cheaper compared to traditional painting methods
- Easy maintenance: requires minimal effort to maintain
- Environmentally friendly: produces less waste than traditional painting methods and is solvent-free.
- Wide range of colour options
By powder coating aluminium, you can provide it with a protective layer that is highly resistant to wear and tear, corrosion, fading, and chipping. This not only increases the longevity of the aluminium but also provides it with a better finish and aesthetic appeal. Additionally, powder coating is cost-effective and environmentally friendly, making it an ideal process for aluminium fabrication projects, whether they’re smaller DIY projects or larger -scale projects.
Powder coating with LA Metals
At LA Metals, we offer a huge selection of aluminium profiles and products to ensure our customers always have a variety of choices to find the perfect product for their project. Aside from excellent powder coating, we also offer a variety of other finishes to customise your product perfectly to your requirements.
For more information on our services, aluminium profiles, or our powder coating process, please get in touch and a member of the team will be happy to help.