It’s no secret that Birmingham is known as the “Steel City”. For over a century steel has been produced in Birmingham, AL and over the years many services and technologies surrounding metal production and fabrication have become significant economic drivers in Birmingham.
Welding, coal, and coke production, and iron excavation have been key factors in the metal working industry in Birmingham.
Powder coating, though, is a relatively new part of this industry and is projected to grow significantly over the next several years keeping with its historical growth.
What Is Powder Coating?
Powder coating is the process of covering metal work pieces with a powder covering through electromagnetic fields of attraction, then baking the covering to give the metal workpiece a durable, flexible protective and attractive covering.
How Does Powder Coating Work?
An emitter rod within the powder coating gun electrically charges the air in the gun. This magnetic field then moves to the metal workpiece that is grounded through an electric charge from a connected ground clamp.
Compressed air from the connected air compressor then expels the dust from the powder container onto the metal workpiece.
The powder is attracted to the workpiece because of the magnetic field between the gun and the workpiece.
After the spraying is finished, the covered workpiece is placed into an oven to melt the powder particles. This bonding process is called the flowout process.
After the flowout process is complete, the metal piece has a glossy, permanent covering that will not only make the workpiece more visually appealing, but it will also help it last much longer than if it were not covered.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Powder gun
- Powder
- Air compressor
- Air pressure regulator
- Air filter
- Oven
- Metal workpiece
- Ground clamp
- Safety goggles
- Dust mask
Benefits of Powder Coating
Powder Coating Protects
Like many other sealants, powder coating protects metal surfaces from degradation like rust or corrosion.
Unlike other sealants like paint, whenever the metal is punctured or scratched powder coating is less likely to crack and expose the metal to the elements.
Powder Coating Is More Flexible Than Paint
This is especially useful if the metal workpiece is pliable or intended to move, like engine parts.
Not only is it flexible in terms of being able to move along with the surface of moveable metal workpieces, but it can also be applied to several different surfaces–not just metal.
Powder coating can be applied to glass, concrete, and plastic workpieces. At Steel City Metal, though, we focus on powder coating for metal workpieces.
Powder Coating Is Easy to Clean
Because powder coating only uses powder to cover workpieces, you do not have to worry too much about protecting the surrounding surfaces.
When finished covering the workpiece, all you have to do is sweep up the excess powder.
Powder Coating in Birmingham, AL
Steel City Metal has an entire team of professionals who offer powder coating services to the Birmingham area.
Whether you are looking for residential powder coating services just south of Birmingham in the Homewood area or you need industrial powder coating services for your equipment, Steel City Metal has the powder coating experience to get the job done.
Contact Steel City Metal today for a free quote on any powder coating service needs in Birmingham, AL!
