Article: Powder coatings – optimizing particle size distribution and milling

ing technology, around 30 years ago, was an important milestone for the coatings sector offering an environmentally benign application process that could deliver an excellent finish. Today, the use of powder coatings is widespread, particularly in the durable goods market, with the automotive industry providing excellent prospects for longer-term growth. The more recent development of powders with low cure temperatures that can be used on heat-sensitive substrates such as wood and plastic is extending the range of applications. Consistent manufacture of powders with the required performance characteristics – at the right price – is a major concern, making effective process control an important goal. One of the defining parameters for a powder coating is particle size; this has a direct impact on the processability of the product and on the finish of the cured film. Tight control of particle size during production is therefore critical. In this article we examine the effect of particle size on product performance and the role that different particle size analysis regimes can play in optimizing powder coating production.