By now, many residents in Houston, Texas, have heard of powder coating. However, many still share one general question: what exactly is this kind of coating? Is it paint, or is it something entirely different? At H-Town Coaters, we’re here to answer your questions, so we’ve given you all the information you need to know about this form of metal coating:

What is Powder Coating Paint?

Believe it or not, the “powder” in this type of metal coating is actually a form of paint. However, it is not the typical, traditional wet paint that one might expect. There are significant differences between powder paint and traditional paint – what is the main one? Wet paint needs a solvent to help the product stick to your metal materials. Powder paint, on the other hand, does not require any sort of solvent to stick to objects. A key benefit of this method of coating is, because there are no solvents, there are no VOC’s released into the atmosphere. This can be particularly beneficial to those living in large, urban areas (like Houston, Texas), where the air is already filled with pollutants. Powder paint gives consumers a more environmentally-friendly option to protect and add style to their metal materials. Another key difference when comparing paint to powder is the lack of pesky drips, runs, or a “sagging” look. Because wet paint is liquid-based, it can easily give an overall inconsistent look to your metal materials. However, because powder paint is not liquid-based, the result is a smooth, even finish without any imperfections.

How Does This Kind of Coating Work?

The process of using powder paint instead of liquid paint is quite different but does have a few similarities. As mentioned above, wet paint requires a solvent to stick to metal objects. However, using powder paint allows us to take a different approach. An electrostatic spray gun is used to apply the coating to a grounded object. The electrostatically-charged particles within the coating allow it to stick to the object without much wasted product. Any powder that does not stick to the metal can be collected and re-used, adding to the “green” aspect. Once the product has been applied to the metal, the object goes into a curing oven. This cures the coating, allowing for a strong, durable bond to be made with the underlying metal. The process is relatively quick, with consumers’ object typically returned to them within the day. The end result, and main reason many of our customers use powder paint is the end result: a beautiful, even finish for your materials, with an added layer of protection against corrosion, scratches, extreme heat, and sudden impact.

When it comes to powder paint vs. liquid paint, more and more consumers are turning to powder for their metal materials. Don’t wait until your materials take on a tarnished or scratched appearance – let our experts coat your most valuable metal materials. No matter what industry you are in – architectural, commercial, or even construction – give us a call.