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Prepping for powdercoating without phosphatizing?

A local company is classified as a categorical industry due to the phosphating pretreatment process prior to powdercoating. The unit used is an "Industrial Heat Enterprises International" unit which has a three stage process. Cleaning w/phoshoric acid solution, rinse, sealer application.

Is it possible to replace the chemistry with something that will eliminate the classification as a categorical user subject to the metal finishing standards?

Any input would be appreciated.

Randall G [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
City Administrator - space coast, Florida

Hi. Three stage iron phosphating is already minimal pretreatment, Randall, and far less robust than 5 or 7-stage zinc phosphatizing. Less pretreatment would be a scandal. As a consumer, I'm tired of wasting my money and piling the landfills mountain high with rusty powder coated tools, lawn equipment, and patio furniture that didn't hold up because it wasn't properly pretreated :-)

Perhaps the company in question should either bite the bullet and be classified as a metal finisher, and do the necessary categorical reporting so they can do proper pretreatment, or not engage in metal finishing :-)

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

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