Will your metal survive the elements?
With all the recent humid and rainy weather, not to mention catastrophic flooding in Auckland, we thought now would be a good time to examine how powder coated metals fare against New Zealand's challenging, wet weather conditions.
It's no secret powder coating is more corrosion resistant and durable than painted metals...
...but that doesn't mean all powder coated metals offer the same resilience by default.
Powder coating is a top choice for those looking to achieve durability in their metals, but several factors influence how much durability is afforded. This includes the prep work, environmental conditions and choice of powder.
What sort of usage your metals are going to get and what conditions they will be exposed to are also important. Learn more below.
Achieving a durable finish is about following all the necessary steps and not cutting corners, something that is imperative for structures, machinery and items that will be outdoors or in regularly wet, humid conditions.
All material should be thoroughly cleaned prior to powder coating to avoid dirt, oils and contaminents affecting the adhesion and quality of the powder application.
Pre-treatment is a core part of our powder coating process for aluminium. We immerse your metal items into tanks filled with lab tested pre-treatment chemicals designed to increase the adhesion of the powder coating and inhibit both the start and spread of corrosion.
How does it work? When your items are dropped in the tank, the chemicals interact with the surface layer of the metal, converting it into a corrosion resistant, non-metalic 'barrier'.
For steel, zinc primer is applied to achieve moisture resistance and corrosion resistance.
From the surface cleaning, pre-treatment/zinc primer application, your metals have already received a siginificant degree of corrosion and moisture resistance before powder coating has even started.
Real world application sets the expectation.
When choosing a powder coating finish "Outdoor durability" sounds good, but what does it actually mean? Was it tested in New Zealand climates? Was it tested on a hard-wearing, daily used piece of farm equipment or on nana's outdoor table?
We recommend a variety of different powders for suitable for New Zealand's dynamic, testing climate and also the type of usage your metals are going to get.
We have powder coated car wheels and outdoor furniture just as we have powdercoated outdoor structures and industrial equipment that will be used in all of NZ's weather conditions, every day of the year.
Through both the general science behind powder coating and localised, in-house knowledge we adapt our processes to suit your product and its application in New Zealand conditions.
Environmental conditions are just as important during the powder coating process.
Powder coating materials are hygroscopic (absorb moisture from the air) which is why humidity levels are of key importance during the powder coating process.
Humidity impacts the powder coating process in that it can result in poor adhesion to the surface. In worse cases, it can drastically increase corrosion and condensation risks.
We retain control over humidity by pre-heating all materials in a powder coating oven and managing humidity levels in the shop, ensuring maximum power adhesion to your surfaces.
Summary - how does this help you?
Through our own pre-treatment, priming and powder coating process we have created a system to ensure a quality finish on all metal products with resistance to NZ's battling, often wet climate.
We have pre-treatment bays and ovens capable of items in both large quantities and large sizes - allowing for a truly repeatable, consistent result which is often crucial for commercial work.
There are other factors to consider - such as the type of powder used, machinery and tools and if you have any further questions you're welcome to contact us.
If you would like to book in your next powder coating job, visit us at 12 Belfast Place, Frankton, Hamilton or phone us on 07 847 8794. We hope this article has helped!
