Tapes are used to prevent powder from surfaces which you do not wish to coat. Tapes come in various colors, sizes and varieties such as duct, polyethylene and high-temperature. A good tape for masking withstands heat and pressure, both of which are inevitable in powder coating. The tape should be easy to attach and detach.
A coating gun is used to charge powder particles. It is fed with powder from a powder outlet through the use of pressure. The coating gun, also referred to as the electrostatic gun, uses various techniques to charge the coating powder. Some guns use electricity and are known as corona guns. Some use friction to generate charges and are known as tirbo guns. Other guns fling charges from the edge of a bell-like structure. These are known as bell-charging guns. The guns have a control button that regulates the amount of charge on the powder articles and the rate at which the powder is received from the outlet into the gun. To choose the correct gun for a powder coat job, check the frequency of the inlet of powder into the gun and the voltage.
Equipment used to smear powder onto surfaces depends on the technique applied. The fluidized bed is applied in the thermoplastic technique. It divides grains of powder and enhances the amount of electro charge. Pre-heated powder is dipped into the fluidized bed where the powder melts. Electrostatic spray is used in the thermosetting technique. It charges powder particles within the coating gun. The particles are aimed to a grounded surface which attracts them. Accumulation of particles on the grounded surface causes them to be charged and repel more particles thus complete the coating process.
Kilns are used to solidify the melted material in a process known as cure. The solidification and hardening of the melted powder takes place in the kiln or oven under controlled temperatures. Normally the process takes 10 to 30 minutes under controlled temperatures of 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The kiln is powered by an external source such as electricity or gas. The confined space in the kiln heats up and it in turn, heats the powdered material. The oven has control buttons for regulating the temperature and speed of the process. These help to choose the right oven for your powder heating job.