--By Kayla

    If you're considering purchasing a powder coating system, it's essential to familiarize yourself with key terms related to powder coating. Here are some important terms to know:

Powder Coating: 

    A dry finishing process where finely ground particles of pigment and resin are electrostatically charged and sprayed onto a grounded part. The coated part is then heated, causing the powder to melt and form a hard, durable finish.

Electrostatic Spray Deposition (ESD): 

    A common application method for powder coating. It involves using a spray gun that imparts an electric charge to the powder particles, which are then attracted to the grounded surface of the part being coated.

Curing Oven:

    An oven where coated parts are heated to a specific temperature for a specified period, causing the powder to melt, flow, and cure into a durable, smooth coating.

Pre-treatment: 

    The process of cleaning and preparing the surface of a part before powder coating. This can include steps like degreasing, etching, phosphating, or applying a conversion coating to improve adhesion and corrosion resistance.

Fluidized Bed: 

    A powder coating application method where parts are preheated and then dipped into a bed of fluidized powder, which adheres to the hot surface and melts to form a coating.

Thin Film Powder Coating: 

    A type of powder coating designed to be applied in thinner layers while still providing excellent coverage and durability. It is often used for more precise applications or to reduce material usage.

Thermoset Powder: 

    A type of powder coating that undergoes a chemical reaction during the curing process, resulting in a cross-linked polymer structure that is resistant to heat and chemicals.

Thermoplastic Powder: 

    A type of powder coating that melts and flows when heated but does not undergo a chemical change. It can be remelted and reshaped, unlike thermoset powders.

Hopper: 

    A container that holds the powder before it is fed into the spray gun. It often includes a mechanism for fluidizing the powder to ensure even application.

Powder Booth: 

    An enclosed space designed to contain overspray powder during the application process. It usually includes filtration systems to recover and recycle the excess powder.

Tribo Charging: 

    A powder coating method where the powder particles are charged by friction as they pass through the spray gun. This method does not require an external electrical source for charging the powder.

Grounding: 

    The process of electrically connecting parts to the ground to ensure that the electrostatically charged powder adheres evenly and effectively to the surface.

Transfer Efficiency: 

    The percentage of powder that successfully adheres to the part versus the amount sprayed. Higher transfer efficiency indicates less waste and more cost-effective coating.

Faraday Cage Effect: 

    A phenomenon where electrically charged particles have difficulty penetrating into recesses or cavities of a part, leading to uneven coating. Techniques and equipment are designed to minimize this effect.

Overbake Stability:

    The ability of a powder coating to withstand extended baking times or higher temperatures without degrading or changing color.

    Understanding these terms will help you communicate more effectively with suppliers and make informed decisions when purchasing and setting up your powder coating system.