Tips to Getting Color Right in the Powder Coating Industry

Powder coating is a dry finishing process that can improve efficiency, maximize production and enhance environmental compliance. This coating is available in virtually limitless color options, so it can be hard to know what color to use. Read more about how to pick a powder coat color.

What Is Powder Coating?

Powder coating is a dry powder made from curatives, flow modifiers and leveling agents. This mixture is applied to the surface using electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) and a spray gun. The electrostatic charge applies to the powder particles, which are attracted to the surface, creating a bond. Once the powder coating is applied, it is cured with heat.

This finish is durable and protects the surface from getting corroded or rusted. It can also be used as a decorative finish to give the equipment a certain color.

Tips to Get Color Right in the Powder Coating Industry

Getting the right look for your equipment can be challenging since there are so many options available. If you’re looking at a powder coating color chart and still cannot decide which color to go with, follow these tips for picking a powder coat color:

• Get in different lighting: Light influences how we perceive color. View your powder coating sample in the sunlight, a shadowed space and fluorescent light, and put the light source at different angles. These different viewing conditions will give you a good picture of what the powder coating will look like.
• Decide on a color style: If you are powder coating just one part of your equipment, you can choose an accent color to make it pop, a contrasting color to stand out or a complementary color to fit the look.
• Hide the part’s imperfections: Dark and metallic powder coating colors best hide imperfections on the part’s surface.
• Choose a semi-gloss or satin finish: A semi-gloss or satin powder coating finish gives you the right amount of reflection to make the part look nice. A glossy finish can be too shiny in some conditions.
• Go for an industrial look: Matte and flat finishes are the best choices if you want a tough or commercial look for the piece.

Contact HunterLab Today

Spectrophotometric analysis of your powder coatings provides the best quality control by measuring the exact color of the powder coating, allowing for color matching. This analysis will help your company win bids for clients that want a specific color of your powder coated products. For more information about powder coating color codes, contact HunterLab today. Or, read our blog for more posts about color.