Manufacturers in the automotive industry use powder coating to boost functionality and aesthetic appeal. This technique improves durability and wear resistance for components made with various metals, including steel, copper, bronze, aluminum and titanium. But why does the auto sector rely on this method? Let’s explore the top benefits of powder-coating automotive parts.
What Auto Parts Benefit From Powder Coating?
Powder coating enhances new and aftermarket parts. Car owners can also use powder coatings to update, refurbish or enhance specific vehicle components. That’s because fluoropolymers and polymer powder coatings form durable bonds with metal.
Some of the most frequently powder-coated auto parts include:
- Steel rims and alloy wheels
- Accessories like truck bed rails and metal racks
- Oil pans
- Sway bars and springs
- Frames and chassis
- Engine blocks and heads
- Roof rails and racks
- Brake pads and calipers
- Door handles
- Interior and exterior trim
- Fuel and oil filters
Advantages of Powder Coating Automotive Parts
Powder coating has multiple benefits for the automotive industry. Below are the top five reasons auto part manufacturers should consider using powder coatings.
1. Durability
Spraying powder coating onto car parts adds an electrical charge to the particles, allowing them to adhere to the surface. Curing with high heat forms a thick, hard coating that provides protection for up to 40 years. Usually, powder coatings on automotive parts outlast the vehicles and retain their vibrancy.
Automotive powder coats withstand impact, scratching, fading, chipping, abrasion, corrosion and UV rays, even after the wear and tear of consistent use. After you apply a powder coat, it will retain its shine and luster.
You must clean powder-coated parts to maintain their longevity, appearance and integrity. However, avoid exposure to abrasive cleaners and harsh chemicals that may interfere with the coatings’ integrity and appearance. Only use mild, soapy water and a soft brush or cloth to prevent damaging the surface.
2. Customizable and Exquisite Finish
Powder coatings come in various colors, textures and finishes, providing enough options to customize your automotive parts to your desired look and feel. Mixing different pigment powder colors creates almost any hue you can imagine, creating a cohesive and consistent finish when touching up or refurbishing auto parts.
You can also choose from different finishes, including glossy, metallics and matte, for a sleek attractiveness that turns heads. Powder coating is an excellent medium for creating special effects, like a metallic sheen that changes the auto parts’ color depending on where you look.
They ensure a smooth finish even after a single coat, which you can build on to form a thicker coat that disguises surface bumps and imperfections. The uniform and appealing finish increases your product’s quality. Large automotive manufacturers also use clear powder coatings to enhance cars’ exterior trim on the showroom floor.
3. Corrosion Resistance
A powder coating layer is impermeable and impenetrable, preventing moisture, air and particles from getting through to the underlying metal layer. Because it’s thicker than liquid paints, the powder coating layers apply smoothly over sharp edges and complex-shaped auto parts. Deterring rust and corrosion extends vehicle parts’ life span, even after exposure to common culprits like oxygen and moisture.
These coatings can withstand up to 1,000 hours of saltwater without showing signs of corrosion. Powder-coating your auto parts lets them resist damaging acids or alkalis. Poorly applied powder coating does not adhere well to the parts, leaving invisible gaps that make them susceptible to moisture and rust.
The best way to enhance powder coating’s corrosion resistance is to partner with a reliable manufacturing team that ensures smooth and perfect applications. They must ensure zero bumps or dings that could cause the powder coat to break. It’s also possible to fix corrosion on auto parts by blasting off the rust, smoothing the edges and then recoating the product.
4. Sustainability
Powder coating is significantly more eco-friendly than traditional paints. For starters, it doesn’t contain harmful solvents and volatile organic compounds found in other paint products. Paint application produces these toxic compounds that linger in the air for a long time, reducing air quality and causing adverse effects on the environment and people’s health. The lack of these compounds makes solvent-free powder coatings more environmentally friendly.
Powder coatings are also reusable and produce minimum waste. After abrasive blasting, technicians collect the overspray and reload it on the gun for reuse. The process uses the most energy-efficient burners and ovens for drying and curing, encouraging greener production.
5. Affordability
Powder coating can minimize production costs because it involves a fast preparation process that boosts efficiency and reduces labor expenses. Besides, the coating doesn’t require further finishing after application and curing, which makes it more cost-effective. The extended life span and low maintenance needs of powder-coated parts save users additional money.
Powder coating also saves manufacturers energy, waste disposal and regulatory compliance costs. The process does not have stringent environmental post-application requirements or federal disposal regulations. These factors keep expenses low even for high-volume, custom commercial automotive part manufacturing.
Get High-Quality and Dependable Powder Coatings From Keystone Koating
For over 30 years, Keystone Koating has provided high-quality, durable powder coating services to multiple industries, including automotive and aerospace. We use our extensive experience, advanced industry knowledge and well-trained team to offer exceptional powder coatings and ensure customer satisfaction.
Our premium powder coating services for commercial automotive parts include on-site quality assurance testing, color matching, packaging and transportation. Contact us today to learn more about bulk ordering or request a free quote to get an accurate price estimate for your project within 48 hours.