An epoxy powder coating is one means of providing protection for your components. Products that receive an application of epoxy do exhibit certain qualities required for functionality. While epoxy coatings are not the only choice available, they do offer manufacturers and fabricators certain advantages. Of course, this also means some limitations of usage exist.
Advantages of Epoxy Powder Coatings
Powder coatings are applied to the surface of substrate materials to improve their capabilities to perform in their intended environment. Epoxy is admirably suited in many ways. It provides its components with the following advantages:
* Chemical Resistance: Withstands exposure to a variety of chemicals very well
* Impact Resistant: Epoxy can take a beating and still function properly
* Salt Spray Resistant: Unlike some coatings, epoxy easily combats the negative effects salt spray can have on an object
* Corrosion Resistant: In general, epoxy has excellent anti-rust, anti-corrosion properties
* Adhesion: Epoxy powders adhere easily to the surface of the part they are coating.
* Coating: Epoxy produces a smooth, uniform surface
* Insulates: The material is electrically insulative with outstanding transfer efficiency
Overall, manufacturers recognize the durability, hardness and chemical resistant properties of an epoxy powder coating. Fabricators also recognize the materials limitations.
Limitations of Epoxy Powder Coatings
No powder coating is perfect. Epoxy powder coatings are no exception. They are an indoor only application. This is because the material cannot withstand more than a minimal exposure to UV rays. The result of overexposure is:
* Decrease of gloss
* Chalking
* Brittleness
* Essentially, epoxy products suffer very poorly if left to the elements.
* Epoxy Powder Coating
As noted above, epoxy powder coatings have both advantages and disadvantages. However, when placed into the proper context, epoxy coatings perform exceedingly well. It is important, therefore, always to consider the context of use when looking at epoxy coatings. A simple rule of thumb is as follows: Only use epoxy powder coating for indoor components or those that will be completely hidden underground.
