Qualicoat training
The first of a series of training days has been held at Exova for Qualicoat licensed powder coating companies. Intended primarily for quality control employees, the course covered the wide range of testing which is routinely undertaken on powder coated test samples.
Powder coating of architectural aluminium profiles uses a continuous process which begins with cleaning, etching and chemical pre-treatment, followed by electrostatic dry spraying of powder onto the profile, curing in an oven to 210ºC and finally cooled. Each step of the process has to be carefully monitored and several control samples are sent through the process several times each day, with one sample tested to destruction by Quality control.
Several tests are undertaken to ensure the correct curing of the powder coating and the adhesion to the base material. Exceptionally long life can be expected from today’s architectural coatings, well in excess of 30 years and even longer with Class 2 and Class 3 powders which are even more durable. The emphasis during the course was to ensure that the process in member companies is working at optimum levels.
The course covered both theory and practical work in the laboratory. As there are so many variables in the process, emphasis was placed on avoidance of conditions which may impair the quality of the final coatings.
