One-coat fluorocarbon powder coatings cut VOCs--and costs
In the US, the standard in high-performance coatings for the architectural market is almost exclusively liquid coatings, among them thermoplastics based on polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) resins that require primers. These multicoat systems were the first coatings to meet the 10-year Florida weathering standard of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA)1. More recently, powder coatings based on PVDF have been in use, but not to the extent that powder coatings are used for architectural applications in other parts of the world, specifically Europe. This article discusses why powder coatings aren’t used widely in US architectural applications and then discusses recent advancements in powder technology that has produced thermosetting fluorocarbon powder coatings. The article discusses how these durable, solvent-free systems can cut application costs and points out some limitations to keep in mind when specifying coatings for architectural applications.
A wide range of chemistries are used today to formulate liquid coatings, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and price structures. These range from alkyds, urethanes, and amino resins to silicone polyesters and fluoropolymer-based materials at the higher end of the performance spectrum.