HOME FAQs BOOKS JOBS: Help Wanted Suggestions you are here: Hotline/Forum => Letter 11694
E-coating -- what is it?
Anyone:
I am an estimator for a metal stamping operation in Illinois. Some of the cost I have to quote are those of plating. I understand there are several different types of finishes. I don't know what e-coating is. Can you please tell me about it, or refer to me a place/book where I can get more information about it?
Thanks,
Carlos G [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Hi, Carlos.
E-coating is another name for electrocoating, electropainting, or electrophoretic lacquering. It is used to deposit a paint or lacquer coating (rather than metal, as is deposited by electroplating). It's more of an application method for paint or lacquer than a coating per se.
Parts are dipped into a vat of the lacquer or paint and are electrified in order to promote a reaction at the surface which deposits the paint. Depending on the chemistry, the workpiece can be anodic or cathodic, but these days it's usually cathodic, which has given the process still another common name "CED coating" (cathodic electrodeposition). It is used on very large parts, such as automobile bodies, to apply a primer coat that doesn't miss any spots, and it's also used on smaller parts such as lamps and jewelry to deposit a thin and durable lacquer as a decorative finish.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
++++++Yes, and no. E-coating is a process of using electricity to apply paint or lacquer, however, it is primarily used for smaller parts as a primer. I manage an e-coat facility that works parts from the size of a quarter to a rear axle on an 18 wheeler. E-coat is also a better choice over powder coat if thickness is a concern, the paint is distributed more evenly without fluctuation.
John C [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Sterling Heights, Michigan
++++++
E-coating...is the paint a flammable or combustible?
P-coating...is the powder actually a plastic?
- Oxford, Michigan
February , 2006E-coating is done with the parts immersed in a water-based solution. While you would need to get any relevant hazard information from the actual supplier, I've not heard of it being flammable or combustible and certainly wouldn't expect it to be.
Yes, powder coating is done with powders of thermosets or thermoplastics.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
++++++
Which process is more expensive, E-Coat or Powder Coat?
Scott L [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Evanston, Illinois
++++++That is a little difficult to answer, Scott, because there are different types of e-coats and powder coats, and some e-coats are intended only for use as a primer, and most powder coating requires some sort of pretreatment. But powder coating is generally far thicker than e-coating, involving the deposition of significantly more material, so it is probably reasonable to say that powder coating is more expensive. Perhaps a shop that offers both will confirm or refute this for me.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
+++++++
I want to know the process flow & the entire time for the process completion?. Time for each process & what happens after the completion of each process. I will be happy if you explain me with pictures.
Sandeep [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Chennai, Tamilnadu & India
+++++++ Hello, Sandeep. This public forum is a good place to ask for a quick one-paragraph introduction to a technology you are unfamiliar with, and also a good place for a highly specific question. But as you get into wanting to learn detailed sequences for processes, with pictures, theory, etc., your needs will be far better met by books =>
on the subject. But maybe one of the vendors of the process has a brochure that will help. Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
+++++++
Can e-coating process be carried out on the outer surfaces of silencers. what are the characteristics of e-coating.is it corrosion resistant.
Srikanth m.rproduction supervisor - Bangalore, Karnataka, India
+++++++I'm not sure what you mean by "silencer" Srikanth -- do you mean what I call a "muffler" for automobiles, or motorcycles maybe? As mentioned, the coating is thin but it is corrosion resistant. The biggest question I would immediately have would concern the operational and maximum temperature of the application. For high temperatures you usually need metals or ceramics rather than organic coatings. Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
January 14, 2008
Which one is better, e-coating or powder coating? Do they perform the same aside from powder coating being thicker? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Leonardo Antonio- Winnipeg, MB, Canada
January 14, 2008If one were "better" the other would never be done, Leonardo. Attempting to answer in the abstract would be like trying to suggest whether someone travel by ship vs. rail when they haven't told you where they want to go :-)
We've already mentioned some advantages and disadvantages. But many other advantages/disadvantages are application or situation dependent. If you will tell us the application you have in mind, I think people will be able to help you make an informed choice between the two, or an informed decision to use the two coatings sequentially, which is also often done. Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
February 14, 2008
Hello everybody! What is the best method for treatment of a new replacement vehicle frame for a 59 Chevy. E-Plating, powder coating - or a combination? What would You suggest? Thank You! Al
Alfons Wolff- Haimhausen, Bavaria, Germany
February 14, 2008Both in sequence is best. Powder coating will not be able to cover all areas of the frame, whereas e-coating will and it is done by all OEMs. Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
September 30, 2008
Mine is not a question but a comment about powder coating. I run a small job shop specialty coating service and use a Gema gun. The commercial guns have KV's ranging from 10-100 with the normal application amp set at 45 for powder attraction. I use a batch method with carts to handle large parts and racks for small parts. I think the application thickness would depend on the application KV's applied to the part for powder attraction, don't you?
Say for instance a tank holding 50 lbs of powder using an air mix and low KV's, I think with air blowing the powder around the tank as the parts passed through would flock the powder very proportionally and with low KV's the thickness could be adjusted.
Permits for E-coat and chemicals are very costly and a start up operation could start around $ 500,000.00 so I am told by suppliers.
owner of coating shop - Washington, North Carolina
October 12, 2008
What type of e-coating should I request so that I can spray epoxy primer over top of it with no adhesion or reaction problems?
Shawn G Lavene- Dayton, Ohio
August 17, 2009
I'm working on a stamping part for Caterpillar. They ask E-coating with 600 hours salt spray test.
Which kind of E-coating I need to use?
Thanks!
die & mold making - Shanghai, China
February 3, 2010
My company currently powder coats the components of the bike racks it manufactures. These bike racks go on the back of vehicles. Is E-Coat a replacement for powder coating. Is it as durable as a powder coat finish for exterior applications.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of E-Coat vs. Powder Coat.
Thank you.
manufacturer - Alna, Maine
February 4, 2010Hi, Richard. The vehicles you mention would be first e-coated, then powder coated or wet spray painted. Obviously, the vehicle manufacturers do not think of e-coating as a replacement technology, but as a supplementary technology.
If your bike racks have tight interior corners or a bit of weld splatter, etc., e-coating can get you complete coverage whereas powder will not. But powder is thicker and probably more corrosion resistant and attractive. I think the powder coating is more durable.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
April 12, 2010
We have been e-coating a small magnesium (AZ-91D) part in a black e-coat with minor issues (some occasional small chipping).
I am now proposing a larger part (AZ-91D front housing for a handheld computer with scanner) that would be e-coated in a metallic finish.
Are the metallic finishes as/more/less durable than the solid coats and is there a secondary process that improves durability without sacrificing wall consistency?
- Norcross, Georgia
April 22, 2010Hi, Bob. finishing.com just completed a major study of corrosion resistant coatings for zinc die-castings for IZA, and we found the metallic colors about equal to the solid colors in corrosion resistance. Polyurethane top-coating does significantly improve the corrosion resistance.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
December 2, 2010hi,
chandresh varsani
i have one product which is polyurethane E-coat.
it is clear and it will give good exterior resistance.
one thing I want to discuss: solid coats are more powerful than the metal coat because of their physical structure. the solid coat arrange in plate like structure so it help to inhibit the corrosion.
- Rajkot, Gujarat, India
August 17, 2011
Hi.
i want to know about the material used and process used in E coating, I want to do this coating on molds which are used to produce ABS plastic products which are injected at very high temperature about 150-200 degree Celsius, which would be better option for non sticky coating.
thanx in advance.
- New Delhi India
August 17, 2011
Hi, Dev.
Sorry, I've never heard of anyone using e-coating on molds. But I certainly don't claim to have heard of everything.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
October 5, 2011
I am considering a process where I e-coat a cast iron ring then mold rubber to the ID..
My question is if the e-coated ring is exposed to a 150C/300 second heat cycle (rubber molding cycle) will it damage the performance of the e-coat??
THX for your help in advance..
- canton, Michigan