Letter 23560

Air emissions from the powder coat cure process?

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My company is currently reviewing several paint processes in use at our facility. Traditional wet paint, electro-coat, and powder coat. My question surrounds the powder coat process. During the curing process for powder coatings, what kind of emissions are released to the air with a Polyester TGIC powder? I have tried looking all over the web for any information on what air releases may come from powder coating. I know powder is preferred by regulatory agencies because it releases no/low voc's compared to wet paint and e-coat, but what is released? There is a distinctive odor associated with curing powder, so something is coming off the curing parts. Thank you in advance for all your help.

James Hanley
- Redmond, WA, USA

I run a job shop powder application business, and while I have often smelled paint curing, I never pick up an odor that I associate with curing powder. I do pick up smells when we are burning off metal contaminates like grease or oil prior to blast. All metals have their own distinctive smells of course, but these are faint if the metal is clean. Some metal platings like galvanizing are smelly when heated. In general if the part is well cleaned metal there is little or no organic material going up the stack.

Gregg Taylor
powder coating systems - Tacoma, WA

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