SEE THE DIFFERENCE

Powder Coating

Black Warrior Protective Coatings is dedicated to providing only the highest quality powder coat finishes in the south. Located in Tuscaloosa, AL, we continue to grow by providing our customers with the high-quality, custom work they demand.

For an accurate powder coating project quote, please email photos to us at Black Warrior Protective Coatings info@blackwarriorpc.com or call us at (205) 657-7260. From patio furniture to car powder coating, we do it all! Pick-up, Delivery, and alternative work hours available.

What is powder coating

Powder coating is a dry finishing process that has become extremely popular since its introduction in North America over in the 1960s.  Representing over 15% of the total industrial finishing market, powder is used on a wide array of products. Powder coating is applied electrostatically and is cured under heat to allow it to form a “skin”. More and more companies specify powder coatings for a high-quality, durable finish, allowing for maximized production, improved efficiencies, and simplified environmental compliance.  Used as functional (protective) and decorative finishes, powder coatings are available in an almost limitless range of colors and textures, and technological advancements have resulted in excellent performance properties.

How it works

Powder coatings are based on polymer resin systems, combined with curatives, pigments, leveling agents, flow modifiers, and other additives.  These ingredients are melt mixed, cooled, and ground into a uniform powder similar to baking flour.  A process called electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) is typically used to achieve the application of the powder coating to a metal substrate.  This application method uses a spray gun, which applies an electrostatic charge to the powder particles, which are then attracted to the grounded part.  After application of the powder coating, the parts enter a curing oven where, with the addition of heat, the coating chemically reacts to produce long molecular chains, resulting in high cross-link density. These molecular chains are very resistant to breakdown.  This type of application is the most common method of applying powders.  Powder coatings can also be applied to non-metallic substrates such as plastics and medium density fiberboard (MDF).

Sometimes a powder coating is applied during a fluidized bed application.  Preheated parts are dipped in a hopper of fluidizing powder and the coating melts, and flows out on the part.  Post cure may be needed depending on the mass and temperature of the part and the type of powder used.  No matter which application process is utilized, powder coatings are easy to use, environmentally friendly, cost effective, and tough!

Durability of powder coating

Powder coating is a high-quality finish found on thousands of products you come in contact with each day.  Powder coating protects the roughest, toughest machinery as well as the household items you depend on daily.  It provides a more durable finish than liquid paints can offer, while still providing an attractive finish.  Powder coated products are more resistant to diminished coating quality as a result of impact, moisture, chemicals, ultraviolet light, and other extreme weather conditions. In turn, this reduces the risk of scratches, chipping, abrasions, corrosion, fading, and other wear issues.

It's tough. It looks great. And it lasts a long, long time.  In addition to being durable, powder coating is an attractive choice due to environmental advantages.

Proper preparation

It’s important to consider that your paint job is only as good as the surface preparation of the metal being painted. Preparing items for powder coating may involve cleaning, media blasting (sandblasting), chemical stripping, and other processes to remove such things as rust, old paint, oils, and mill scale. Media blasting is a fast, affordable and safe way completely strip paint, bondo, grime and most importantly, rust from your metal parts in order to provide a clean palette for coating.

Media Blasting is an excellent may to remove paint, rust and oxidation without damaging the surface of the metal. We use Glass Beads, Aluminum Oxide and Black Beauty (slag coal) in our enclosed cabinets. These abrasives have been proven to not only restore the metal to its bare metal, it leaves a surface that is excellent for our powder coating finished to adhere to. Below is a picture of a truck wheel we recently blasted. Take a look at the difference.