Powder coating will function perfectly well on a wide range of materials. However, it is particularly effective when it comes to aluminium. Since this metal is so often used by fabricators in Australia today to make items as diverse as outdoor play equipment and street lighting fittings, it is important to know about all the finishing options that work well. Despite aluminium's well-known ability to withstand corrosion, it will often benefit from being lacquered or painted. It is frequently much more advantageous to powder coat it, however. What are the main benefits of powder coating a product that has been fabricated from this versatile metal?
Durability
One of the key advantages of powder coating something like a set of goalposts that have been fabricated from aluminium is that it improves the durability of the surface. Aluminium can be scratched with a hard object which will soon oxidise once more to provide a protective layer. Nevertheless, if this is done repeatedly, the structural integrity of thinner sections of the metal can be undermined. A coating of resin-based powder will provide a scratch-resistant outer layer that helps to protect the aluminium beneath it no end.
Fast Processing
When you want to finish aluminium attractively, both paint and powder coats make a lot of sense. However, most fabrication firms will find that powder coating applications are much quicker than conventional paints. Certainly, they take up less time when curing despite the very even finish that is obtained when a powder coating is applied. This will commonly result in cost savings, of course, due to the reduced timescale.
VOC-Free
Although there is no need to use a paint application with a volatile organic compound (VOC) in it, many fabricators and manufacturers do because of the superior finish they often afford. With a powder coat, however, no VOCs are required whatsoever to achieve a very high-quality appearance. Bear in mind that some paints will always drip or leave streaks, especially when they do not contain VOCs, which is not an issue with powder applications.
Colour Choices
Aluminium has a reflective, slightly silver appearance which looks great. That said, it is not suited in all situations, such as with residential door and window frames, for example. With a powder coating, your fabricated products can be covered with a finish that is available in any standard RAL colour you like - and there are plenty to choose between. Both solid colours and metallic hues are available, so you can obtain a tone that is suited to the product at hand and make it look almost as unique as the item you are fabricating.
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