As a fabricator of any or all kinds of metal, working your head off to produce something amazing can be frustrating when it ends up getting rusted after only a short period. This could push you to seek out long-lasting solutions to this problem, and perhaps, you have heard powder coating could help. This brings us to the question ‘Does Powder-coated Steel Rust?”
No, Powder-coated steel does not rust. It is more rust-resistant than normal steel. Powder-coated steel is placed in an oven after it has the powder-coated surface applied; this causes the material to cure and become more durable, which means it can last longer outdoors.
In addition, Powder coating steel is a very common and popular finishing option for products. The process of powder coating steel, like combining many other metals, forms alloys. Powder coatings on steel are, in general, tougher and harder than conventional paints.
Therefore, whether powder-coated steel rusts or not depends on the type and quality of powder coating. As long as high standards are met, you don’t have to worry about rust. You can read further to get more information on this topic below.
Contents
What Is Powder Coating?
Powder coating is a form of coating that is mainly made of dry polyester beads of equal sizes. These beads stick to base materials with the help of the electrostatic charges they carry. To carry out powder coating, you need a spray gun, curing oven, or ultraviolet light. The dry powder is applied electrostatically using a spray gun and then It is cured in a curing oven or under ultraviolet light. It is the strongest type of coating there is. It can withstand manhandling for a long time before it finally gives way to cracks and rust. This means that it can withstand harsh weather conditions as well as human handling.
It is designed to be resistant to any form of solvent. This quality makes powder coating a top option for industries involved in steel or any form of metal works.
Precautions For Laying Powder Coating
- Get rid of impurities. The steel you want to work on must be clean and free from impurities, grease, dirt, and any other substance that might ruin the finishing of your work. It is advisable to media blast the steel before powder coating it. Media blasting helps to get rid of impurities, rust, grease, or paint. Media blasting helps to prevent rust from spreading under a powder coating.
- Cover every inch of space. It is important to cover every inch of the material you are working on. Space and gaps allow for exposure of the steel to moisture and air, and this can lead to rust. The laying of the powder coat has to be done evenly to avoid inconsistencies. There should not be a spot that has more powder coat than the rest of the steel.
- Ensure to remove cracks or chips in the powder. One good thing about powder-coating is that cracked or chipped spaces can be fixed by simply applying another layer of coat to the spots.
Benefits Of Powder Coats
- Toughness: Powder coats give the material a tough exterior. It gives it an appealing outlook for a long time, saving you the stress of changing or coating the material over and over again. This quality of powder coat makes it the better option for decors and outside furnishing, helping the materials withstand harsh and unfavorable conditions.
- Rust resistance: The powder coat has created a thick, protective barrier between the metal material and possibly external factors that can cause rust such as moisture and air. Note that powder-coating a metal material does not cure existing rust. If the metal already has any signs of rust appearing, powder-coating would not remove it or prevent it from spreading. Yes, that’s right, powder-coating an already rusted metal does not save the metal from further deterioration. The rusting action simply continues under the coating.
- Great appearance: Powder coats help with beautiful finishings. It gives your final product an alluring look that cannot but make a passer-by look twice or more. You don’t need to do so much when it comes to marketing, it speaks for itself.
- Cost-effectiveness: Powder-coat a metal is highly cost-effective. This means it would save you a lot of money and it is more preferable to spray paint which can easily chip, crack, or get rusted in a short while. It is highly economic.
- Durability: This matters a great deal in the production of quality tools or implements. Nobody wants to buy a product that would not last for a long time. Its durability keeps it going even when the going gets tough.
- Eco-Friendly: This means that powder-coating is suitable for the environment. There is no danger of heavy toxins or metals in the atmosphere which can be poisonous to human health and anatomy.
Can Powder Coated Steel Rust?
The short answer is yes. How?
Exposure
No matter how strong a material is or can be, it always has a breaking point. This means that if powder-coated steel is exposed to the wrong conditions such as chemicals, friction, or stress over and over again, it would eventually get damaged. To ensure that the powder coating lasts long, limit the harsh treatments it gets and handle it with care as much as possible.
Misapplication
As said somewhere on the top page of this article, wrong applications can result in rusting, chipping, or cracking of the powder coat. To save yourself the stress of fixing it every time, you need to ensure that the powder coat was properly laid and all the precautions were put in action. Precautions such as cleaning every inch of surface you would be applying the coat to and many other precautions required.
In the absence of these factors, powder-coated steel would not rust.
Conclusion
Powder-coated steel does not rust if the process is done well and all the precautions have been adhered to. Powder coating helps you kill two birds with one stone, the material lasts long and you get a beautiful finishing. You cannot go wrong with powder coating.
