There are a number of different ways to coat metals to improve the aesthetics and make them last longer. One of the most effective is powder coating. It can create a durable, long lasting finish that is incredibly easy to maintain. However, professional application is essential if you want the best results. An issue here can cause more harm than good. It is absolutely essential to test to make sure the coatings will be high quality. We want to have a look at some of the methods you can use here. Then, if you want to order powder coating testing panels, we have fantastic 5005-H24 aluminium products.
Why is it so important?
Before we start looking at different testing methods, let’s have a quick discussion of why testing is so vital. The goal with powder coating is to get a quality finish that protects the metal, looks great, and lasts a long time. However, there can easily be problems. They can arise because of issues with the powder mix itself, the application, curing time, and many other factors.
The main thing to keep in mind is poor quality powder coating can lead to several issues. This includes patches, bubbling, peeling, chalking, and sagging. They can ruin the aesthetics and performance. Even more importantly, the flaws mean the metal does not have proper protection. They can therefore allow corrosion to occur. It can mean higher costs for maintenance or even stripping and recoating the products.
If you want to be successful with powder coating, it is important to check the standards. The most notable if you are using aluminium is the recommendations from Qualicoat. They ensure people can achieve the best standards for architectural products and more.
Testing methods
One of the most important things to do is use powder coating testing panels. They give you the chance to spray and then test the quality, ensuring the finish will be able to withstand environmental factors like the temperature, humidity, and UV level. You can then make adjustments and ensure the quality before moving on to spraying the actual products. It is also better to do this because a number of the common testing methods are destructive; you don’t want to coat and then have to destroy an actual product.
Cure test
A common test for powder coating checks that is had cured properly to obtain a durable, smooth, uniform finish. It generally involves applying solvent to the surface after curing. If too much coating is removed, or it reveals the metal, the coating is defective.
Impact test
Good quality powder coating is durable and can provide a great level of impact resistance. It makes it useful for high-stress environments. An impact test literally involves dropping a weight on to the testing panel. If it cracks the powder coating or separates from the metal, it is a fail.
Salt spray test
Powder coating is a favoured finishing method because it can create a barrier to improve the corrosion resistance of materials. However, you need to test to ensure that moisture can’t circumvent it. You need to prepare a test panel, cut an X in it, then put it in a fog or weather chamber to expose it to a corrosive salt spray. You check this periodically to calculate the level of creepage. If it is too excessive, the coating is a failure.
Film thickness test
The thickness of powder coating can vary massively. Some applications only require a relatively thin coating, while others want a thicker one to improve durability. Sadly, problems with application can mean the thickness isn’t sufficient or is inconsistent. Testing with a film thickness metre will ensure you are within the tolerance range. Make sure you measure in several different spots on the powder coating testing panels to get an average.
Mandrel bending test
Another destructive type of testing checks the flexibility of a powder coating. If you have a product that needs to flex, bend, or elongate, you have to check this to ensure you won’t have cracking or crazing. What you do to test this is use a mandrel to bend the testing panel. You should not see cracking or separation of the powder coating in the bend area.
Adhesion test
Finally, you need to test to make sure the powder coating will adhere properly to the substrate. A problem with adhesion can cause peeling, chipping, and other defects. What you do here is make a series of parallel cuts in one direction, then another series perpendicular to them, creating a crosshatch pattern. You then apply tape and remove it to see if this removes any of the powder coating. If it does, it’s a failure.
Do you want to order quality powder coating testing panels?
Brindley Metals understands how important powder coating quality is. It can be the difference between high performance products and serious flaws. In the worst cases, an issue with the coatings can result in structural failure because of corrosion. With that in mind, we supply panels so clients can test their coatings. It can ensure the powder and application is effective.
If you want to order 5005-H24 aluminium powder coating testing panels, you can contact us. Each one is 6″ x 3″ x 1mm thick and has a hole for easy hanging. You can spray them and then do any relevant tests to make sure you can achieve the right finish quality.