Magnesium is an increasingly popular material in car parts due to its lightweight yet strong-to-light ratio, yet many individuals question if powder coating magnesium is possible.
Yes, but with proper preparation and curing. In this article we’ll explore the process of powder coating magnesium as well as provide helpful hints for ensuring a successful finish.
What is Powder Coating?
Powder coating offers superior durability and visual enhancement of metal parts compared to liquid paint, starting as dry pigment applied electrostatically to their surfaces before being put in an oven where it melts into a solid covering for them.
Matte, glossy and textured finishes are available. Additionally, powder can be tailored to meet individual requirements with flow modifiers, leveling agents and cure promoters to help make it the best possible match.
Prior to sending metal objects for powder coating, they must first be thoroughly cleaned, ground or sandblasted to ensure that the color adheres properly. Powder coaters also utilize an electrostatic charge when applying their coats in order to minimize overspray and waste. As a result of using this coating technique, finished products are extremely durable, resistant to abrasions and scratches and weather better than painted finishes.
Advantages of Powder Coating
Powder coating provides a high-quality finish that is both long-term and visually appealing, protecting magnesium against corrosion and oxidation while adding an attractive aesthetic to its exterior surface. Furthermore, this process can be done on various metal types including magnesium.
Powder coating stands out as one of the more eco-friendly methods of painting than traditional liquid ones, as it does not use solvents and therefore do not release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere, eliminating exposure to dangerous chemicals and pollutants.
Powder coating processes are also fast and cost-effective. No long drying period is needed, saving both time and money; powder is more durable than liquid paint when it comes to resisting chipping, scratching and fading; additionally it prevents chipping, scratching and fading altogether! However, before powder coating your magnesium part it must first be properly cleaned, ground and sandblasted prior to beginning the powder application process.
Safety Concerns of Powder Coating
Powder coating does not contain solvents, making it much safer than traditional liquid paint. However, metal fabricators must take certain precautions when using powder coating.
Electrical hazards include defective grounding systems and overheating of powder spray equipment. There is also the risk of fire or dust explosion. To reduce these risks, powder air concentrations must remain below their explosion (flammability) limits, with regular inspections to make sure it hasn’t passed its limit of combustibility.
Powder coatings may contain harmful materials that are inhaled deep into the lungs during normal breathing. To comply with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations and protect employees from exposure limits and health effects of HSE powders, operators should wear personal protective equipment like masks and gloves when handling or applying powder coatings.
Preparation for Powder Coating
Powder coating metal products is an economical and long-term way to provide them with an elegant surface finish, but you need to prepare it correctly first before taking it to a powder coater. Your surface must be free from contaminants like dust, dirt, oils or rubber gaskets that might react negatively with 400degF temperatures used for powder coating.
Cleaning parts may involve media blasting, grinding, sanding or chemical processes depending on their performance characteristics and customer specifications.
Chemical pretreatment typically includes several steps, beginning with washing your part with either an alkaline or acidic cleaner to dissolve any organic soils such as mill oil and machining coolants that could lead to rejections or warranty claims in the future. After that, phosphatizing will create an ideal surface for powder paint application – usually iron phosphate is used, although zinc phosphate could also work effectively.