Resins in Liquid and Powder Coating

Question:

I should like to have more information on powder coatings available as liquids for painting electrical panel boards and other steel furniture that is fabricated by us. If you could please send us some materials or pointers regarding these, I shall be very grateful. S.R.

Answer:

When you work as the paint consultant at Westinghouse Research Labs, you learn to wear many hats. Although I am no longer working there, I still have the hats. I am putting on the materials scientist hat to answer your question. As shown in Table III of my chapter "Overview of Industrial Coating Materials" on page 66 of the 2001 PF Directory and Technology Guide, acrylic, epoxy, polyester, polyurethane and vinyl resin-based materials are available as liquid and powder coatings. That said, it is important to remember that although the basic performance properties of the liquid and powder versions of the various resins are similar, specific coatings must be investigated before using them on your products. If you read Nick Liberto's chapter, "Powder Coatings: Not Your Run of the Mill Coating" in the same publication, you will see that powder coating will protect and decorate a host of products. Electrical panel boards and steel furniture are a couple of them.