UNDERSTANDING POWDER COATING
Powder coating is a finishing process that makes use of thermoplastic and/or thermoset material for the objective of applying coating to the surface area of either glass, metal parts, plastics and medium density finderboard.
The cleaning and preparation of parts is normally done with fine powder that covers the surface of the parts that are worked on, and then the final touch is placing the parts in an oven for heating. This last step enables the powder to simmer deep into the part and form perfect coating.
The craft of power coating is used in various industries like the consumer product industry, construction and the appliances industry. Institutions like schools also utilise this service in a sense that school desk manufacturing relies heavily on powder coating for durability.
Even at an individual level, one can powder coat rusted furniture, frames, car rims, gates etc.
As you can imagine, it can be a bit of a technical process and it requires a certain level of expertise to get right. In this short article, we will go through the step-by-step journey in getting power coating right.
Pretreatment
The first step that begins the entire process is pretreatment. Before coating is applied to a part, cleaning must be done vigorously. A typical procedure of cleaning usually includes aqueous cleaning, vapour decreasing and/or ultrasonic cleaning. In an instance whereby a part will require organic coating, great emphasis is placed on surface pretreatment.
Proper cleaning of the metal part is crucial in ensuring that it is well prepared for dry-off. Great consideration is also taken to avoid contamination, specifically soil particles and other forms of dust that may land on the surface area.
Application
In terms of application, it is important to remember that powder coating subscribes to two methods. These methods determine the kind of coating that needs to be done on a specific part for the paint’s durability, and in arriving at the decision of what needs to be applied, factors such as application environment, sizing, substrate materials and cost are considered.
Electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) and Fluidized bed application are two components of powder coating, and they work, ideally, for multi step surface finishing for metal and non-metal substrates.
In application, technicians employ either one of these (depending on the part they’re working on) and make use of a spray gun and spray booth.
Curing
The curing phase in the powder coating process is characterized by the method of application. Remember, we have Electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) and Fluidized bed application. Out of these two, you get curing ESD coated parts and curing fluidized bed coated parts.
3.1. Curing ESD parts – for all those parts that undergo ESD powder coating, a suitable method of curing is the oven, with the temperature averaging between 162 and 232 degrees celsius. Special attention is paid to the shape, size and thickness of the metal part in regards to the temperature that is applied in the curing. The time spent in the oven varies for each part in relation to its size. These can range anywhere from 10 minutes all the way to an hour and beyond.
3.2. Curing fluidized bed coated parts – fluidized bed powder coating is the phase of taking a part and dipping it in a pot of fluidized powder. The part can either be dipped like this or it can also be fluidized electrically by moving it over a cloud of powder with the pot of fluidized powder resting on the base.
For both techniques, preheating plays a vital role. It’s the catalyst that ensures the thorough blending of coating into the preheated part, with particles melting seamlessly into the object.
Whether you’re a professional, semi-experienced or entry-level operator, quality powder coating remains a craft that requires continuous practice and dedication in order to get right. The beauty and reward of the job lies in seeing a final product. The amount of time spent on it is an amazing demonstration of what happens when science meets art.
- Published in Powder Coating
DEALING WITH REAR-END DAMAGE
In the hustle and bustle of modern city life, everything happens quickly. We find ourselves stuck in traffic jams on our way to work and back, and in the midst of some of that busyness (hooters, taxis playing loud music, bumper-to-bumper traffic etc.) your car may get hit behind by someone who didn’t observe a safe following distance. These things happen.
Car collisions, no matter how minor, can be very stressful. Even if you have insurance, the inconvenience of being immobile for a couple of days and the anxiety that comes with searching for a reliable panel beater who’ll bring your car back to good condition is real. Fortunately, at Ezy Panel Beaters, we have a team of experts who specialise in auto body repair.
From the smallest dents to the biggest damage, we will be able to fix your car efficiently and put a smile back in your face.
As soon as a car with rear end damage arrives at our workshop, the first thing we do is to write an estimate which will give us a clear indication of the damage (both seen and unseen) as well as which parts will need to be replaced or repaired. After that the estimate is given to the insurance company or the customer for a stamp of approval. Essentially, this is authorization for the car to be repaired in line with the stipulated costs.
The next step in the process is to get all the needed parts for the job. Depending on the vehicle, we often get either major damage which usually includes the replacement of parts and we also get minor damage.
Typically, the repair process involved in fixing a motor vehicle starts off with a structural repair, followed by body repair and painting. The last part is to reassemble and put the final touch (detailing). Let’s quickly go through each and everyone of these in more detail.
Structural repair
Structural repair is the intricate aspect of repairing a car and it comprises welding, cutting and chassis straightening. It’s crucial that chassis straightening be done correctly as a first priority since it holds the structural integrity of the whole vehicle. Great care and caution is taken when measurements are done in order to replicate the manufacturer’s design and framework, and get the car back to its pre-accident shape.
Body repair
Visual appeal is of the essence. It is the same reason you decided to settle for the colour red or blue when you bought your car. Repairing the body of the vehicle is a process that entails the replacement of parts such as window glass, frames and windshields.
Refinishing and painting
Refinishing is all about working on the surface of the body so as to make it ready for spray painting. Normally, spray guns are the tools that the technicians utilize in applying primer, base coat and clear-coat to the vehicle.
There are a lot of factors that are taken into consideration during the refinishing process, key among them being corrosion. It’s a vital aspect of refinishing to protect the vehicle from developing rust in the fixed spot or areas. It’s a highly technical job and it requires the expertise of a well-trained technician to get it right.
When refinishing is done, the painting begins. Here, we strictly adhere to the car manufacturer’s instructions in relation to the dry time for the paint (it normally varies from car to car). We go through at least three coats in order to cover the surface.
Reassembly
The second last step in the project of fixing a rear end damaged vehicle is reassembly. This is the state of putting all the pieces together like a puzzle. For reassembly to happen in a proper way, the very basics must be observed. The process of reassembly works almost backwards – we begin with the end in mind.
When a car first comes into the workshop, the technicians strategically dismantle the pieces that are to be worked on, and they also make space for other activities in the repair process. Here, they note of every part and its shape, role and task in the proper function of the vehicle. This carefully-observed data comes in handy in the reassembly process at the end.
Detailing
At this point, the job is almost done. We are applying the final touch and making sure that your car looks as new as it first did on the day you drove it out of the dealership. Detailing is a term that explains the procedure of wrapping up the project by polishing the exterior and interior. It’s cleaning of the surface and ensuring that your car is well protected from UV rays and other natural elements. The paint is accentuated by some smooth detailing.
Ultimately we strive to give you peace of mind, knowing that the auto body repair process on your car will be a seamless experience. The results speak for themselves. We aim to restore and reinforce a happy driving experience for all of our customers. Should you find yourself having to deal with rear end damage on your vehicle, we will be more than happy to assist you with the repair process
- Published in Rear End Damage