Powder coating provides exceptional protection against corrosion and wear. For interior and exterior uses, it offers multiple advantages compared to both galvanizing and paint. Today, modern powders provide advanced defense against the elements that you can trust to last for years to come with minimal ongoing care.
A dependable finish coat relies on a strong adhesive bond, and expert powder coating surface preparation is vital to get the best results. At Keystone Koating, our eight-stage powder coating pretreatment process will ensure that your products achieve lasting and maximum protection and visual appeal.
The Benefits of Powder Coating Pretreatment
Powder coating pretreatment cleans and seals products before powder application. Pretreatment is incredibly effective at removing oils, greases and other impurities. In many cases, powder coating pretreatment can eliminate the need for additional abrasives blasting, saving both time and money. Through different stages of the process, pretreatment seals products for extra protection and improved adhesion between the metal surface and the primer or powder coat.
The Keystone Koating Eight-Stage Powder Coating Pretreatment Process
At Keystone Koating, our proprietary eight-stage pretreatment system exists in line with the rest of our processes for expedited completion. Our powder coating pretreatment process delivers excellent results and helps us meet strict specifications. To minimize our impact on the environment and help you maintain green manufacturing processes, we use reclaimed rainwater and dispose of wastewater using eco-friendly evaporation methods. Our process, detailed below, is also entirely chrome-free.
Step One: Alkaline Cleaner
The first step in powder coating surface preparation is an alkaline wash to remove contaminants like liquids, dust and soil.
Steps Two and Three: Alkaline Rinses
Products go through two rinses to remove cleaning agents from step one and ensure the removal of remaining surface debris.
Step Four: Ion Phosphate Treatment
We apply an ion phosphate solution that pickles the surface and forms a coating to improve the bond and resist corrosion.
Steps Five and Six: Ion Phosphate Rinses
In steps five and six, items go through additional rinses designed to remove all traces of ion phosphate solution from step four.
Step Seven: Reverse Osmosis Rinse
The reverse osmosis rinse washes the product in pure water to eliminate leftover chemicals and contaminants from earlier.
Step Eight: Chrome-Free Sealer
As a final step, we apply a dry-in-place, chrome-free zirconium seal and use advanced silane technology to strengthen the bond.
Once your products reach the end of our eight-stage powder coating pretreatment process, we’ll put them through immediate drying to prevent the onset of corrosion. Depending on your specifications, your items will then move to the next step in your customized powder coating process.
Take Advantage of Powder Coating Pretreatment
With the right powders, surface preparation and professional application from an established provider, you can get a powder coating finish made to last for years in the exact color, texture and thickness you want. Get a quote today, or send us a message for more information about our powder coating pretreatment process and other services.
