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How to Powder Coat Plastics (Nylon, ABS, Polycarbonate, Composites)




Q. Hi my name is Fawnda Shahalami,

I want to UV print to polycarbonate second surface using a SwissQ Nyala press 7/0 plus white ink.
Then I want to powder coat over the ink and along the side of the polycarbonate.
Is this possible without melting the image or transforming it any?
Thanks,
Fawnda

Fawnda Shahalami
- Tualatin Oregon
April 12, 2021




⇩ Closely related postings, oldest first ⇩



Q. We would like to replace an aluminum, powder coated part with a polymer or composite material that can be powder coated. Any suggestions?

Brian M [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
1997



A. A product that would meet your requirements is SMC [sheet molding compound].

I hope this helps.

Bill Humphrey
1997


A. Yes,

I think SMC might also work, but when you say SMC.....does the SMC have a liquid "Conductive Primer" prior to the powder coat? I would also like to know if plastic parts are paintable via Powder-Coat. My response about using a conductive primer like an in-mold coating is theoretical and un-tested.

Bill Taylor
Dublin Ireland
1997



A. Dear Brian,

There is currently some successfully tested and proven methods of applying thermosetting powder coatings to certain plastics.

E.g., for ski bindings, handles for pots and pans. Usually the best results have been with Vinyls and Phenolic type materials.

Various products such as Staticfluid and/or waterbased primers are available for dip or spray application prior to powder painting.

Thomas F. Gratz
St. Charles, Illinois
1998




Q. Can anybody help I am trying to plastic coat some fishing creels I have made an oven to heat the creels but I can't get the plastic powder in the dip tank to fluidize very well.

Thank's

C.J. S [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
- England
1998



A. Hi C.J. A fluidized bed requires a properly designed air stream coming up from the bottom to fluidize the material, picture quicksand which has just enough water flowing upward to keep the sand from compacting. User's Guide to Powder Coating [adv: this book onAmazon] by Nicholas Liberto should prove helpful. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey


A. Hi Brian,

I am an engineer with Grayboe; we injection mold light weight structural strength composite material into custom shapes and our material can be powder coated because of its high heat resistance.

Robert Smelcer PE
Engineering New Customer Products - Peoria, Arizona
June 18, 2021




Multiple threads were merged: please forgive repetition, chronology errors, or disrespect towards other postings [they weren't on the same page] :-)



Q. I am looking for info on powder coating plastics. Is there a low cure powder out there that will work on polycarbonate. If so what would the process require? I presently manage a plastic painting operation and would like to take it to the next level. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

THANK YOU

Randy Schroeder
- Easley, South Carolina
1999


A. Powder coating on plastics and such is not uncommon. I have a client who is powder coating fiberglass braces with polycarbonate inlay. There are many low cure (200-220 °F) powders out there today but high gloss is still a problem - for most.

The first determination is the temperature your substrate can withstand before causing problems. After that is taken care of we can find the right powder and process for your application. Contact Morton powder coating and Forest Paints (Eugene Or.) for more information on low cure powder coats.

Joe Smith
JAS Powdercoat Consulting- Portland, Oregon
1999




Multiple threads were merged: please forgive repetition, chronology errors, or disrespect towards other postings [they weren't on the same page] :-)



Powder coating of plastic

Q. I need information on pretreatment chemicals and/or process for powder coating plastics. Specific chemical concentrations and real world experiences with plastic.

David Simon
- Cascade, Iowa
2002



"User's Guide to Powder Coating"
by Nicolas Liberto

on AbeBooks

or Amazon

(affil links)

"High Performance powder Coating"
by Bob Utech

on AbeBooks

or Amazon

(affil links)

A. David,

I am not aware of anyone presently powder coating plastic. It is feasible, but only with a grounded conductive casting (buck) behind the plastic material for electrostatic attraction. Powder must be low temperature cure (240 °F). For pretreatment details, check on this article: "Determining Plastics Surface Condition for Maximum Paint Performance".

Herb Ashley
- Smartt, Tennessee
2002


A. It is possible to powder coat plastic, however the plastic grade must be specially formulated - it must have good conductivity (by adding conductive fillers to give volume resistivity < 10E4), be heat resistive and provide a good adhesion. Plastics are commercially available.

Paul Bradley
- Spartanburg, South Carolina
2003


A. Yes, it is possible to powder coat plastic.

There are three routes:

1. Use a very high temperature plastic (nylons, polyamides) with standard thermoset powders. May require a prep coat or pre-heating.
2. Use a variety of lower temperature plastics with a low temperature thermoset powder.
3. Use a variety of lower temperature plastics with a UV cure powder.

Paul Mills
- Strongsville, Ohio
2005


A. Powder coating of plastics is possible, we have been doing it since 1993.

chuck Grimes
- Kalamazoo, Michigan
December 16, 2009




Multiple threads were merged: please forgive repetition, chronology errors, or disrespect towards other postings [they weren't on the same page] :-)



Q. How can I paint nylon parts?

Gwenaël Monnier
Automotive - Stoke Golding, Warwickshire, United Kingdom
2003


A. USE 2K PU BASE COAT AS PRIMER AND 2K ACRYLIC PU TOP COAT.

Boris Zhang
- SUZHOU, CHINA
2003


A. You'd better use CPO resin type primer.

But if you don't want use primer...

... use flame treatment or plasma treatment

Yang, Ji Won
- Seoul, Korea
2004




Can ABS Plastic Parts be Powder Coated?

2007

Q. I been asked if it's possible to powder coat plastic parts
The parts dimensions of 4.19 X 3.28, wall thickness is 0.062"
The plastic is ABS
FLAME RETARDENT ABS
CYCOLAC SEA-2X BY GEP
COLOR: GY 5476-GRAY
UL-94 V-O @ 0.91",RTI 60C

Jose Ochoa
Operation Manager - Chula Vista, California



A. Dear Jose,

The powder chemists are really doing some marvelous work in the labs. The problem is that what you require is still in the R & D stages. UV cured powder will be able to coat wood and plastic and there are some operations out there but at the moment it requires at lot of investment to install the plant and the colour and effects you obtain from std powder is not readily available.

Terry Hickling
Birmingham, United Kingdom
2007




Q. How do I get more information concerning powder coating techniques for non-ferrous materials such as plastics or composite automotive intake manifolds, etc.?

Thanks,
Dennis

Dennis Fixsen
- El Cajon, California
2007


A. Hi, Dennis. If your questions require more detail than you see here, or that people can help you with in public, we've suggested a couple of powder coating books.

It isn't clear to me whether you are from a jobshop seeking to do such processes, or whether you are an OEM seeking a powder coating service. If the latter case is applicable, you might also contact local powder coating jobshops. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
September 26, 2008


A. Hi, depending on your substrate you might slightly heat it up to the point were a sprayable thermoplastic powder will adhere by melting on it. Finishing for better surface aspect can then occur in the oven. The polymer powder you need to use shall have some chemical affinity to your substrate and of course you need to select a polymer with low melting point. As I do not have details about your substrate this is all I can say at the moment.

Jean-Pierre BERNHARD
polymer and powder consulting - Blonay / Switzerland
July 13, 2010




Q. I WANT TO POWDER COAT GREY COLOR ON FUEL TANK CAP.
MATERIAL IS NYLON 66, 50% GLASS FILLED.
PLEASE GUIDE FOR PROCESS.

JAIPAL Singh
- RUDRAPUR UTTRAKHAND INDIA
December 29, 2020



December 2020

A. Hi Jaipal. Powder coating on glass-filled nylon can be done by utilizing UV curing, preferably preceded by plasma etching for proper adhesion. Good videos are available from a number of powder coating shops and powder suppliers. The video below is a good intro in just 98 seconds.

1255youtube

Luck & Regards,

pic of Ted Mooney
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey




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