Powder coating technology for wire-formed products
Powder coating is a clean, safe, and easy-to-use finishing method for wire-formed products. This article provides introductory information about the three primary methods used to powder coat wire forms - conventional fluidized bed, electrostatic fluidized bed, and electrostatic spray gun - and discusses the materials available for these processes.
Powder coating is well-known for providing tough, attractive finishes on an assortment of products. Figure 1 shows an example of powder-coated springs. Unlike many paints or chemical metal treatments, powder coating is considered environmentally friendly, with essentially no volatile organic compounds [VOCs] or residue issues. This type of coating can be appealing from a total-cost point of view, as evidenced by its use on a variety of end products. For example, powder coatings are used to finish inexpensive, throwaway automotive oil filters as well as expensive, highvalueadded products such as exterior parts for buildings and automobiles.