Coatings update: Powder coatings

More articles have been published about powder coating in the last two years than about any other phase of the protective coatings industry. From this almost overwhelming flurry of print, certain factors emerge. The first is that powder coating technology is certainly a valid and useful one. It has established itself as an integral contributor to the achievements of the protective coatings industry and, without doubt, it will be with us for many years to come. Its success is due to its many advantageous factors which have been reviewed many times in the past. Great strides have been made in that a highly versatile group of powders are now available with both thermoset and thermoplastic properties; it is possible to achieve thin coatings; and the savings in terms of effective powder usage have been well‐documented. Where there is overspray, equipment has been evolved for recycling. Stressed most often has been powder coating's contribution to a non‐polluting painting operation. Powder coating, on the other hand, does not solve the energy shortage problem since the coatings must be fused and baked. However, less energy is required than for solvent based coatings simply because the energy requirements associated with solvent removal are eliminated.