Powder coating is a form of electrostatically charged paint applied via an air fluidized hopper. This finishing method has garnered increasing popularity in recent years from its favorable physical properties and processes.
If you’re looking for a high-quality finish for your aluminum extrusions, consider powder coating. Powder coating aluminum extrusions offers several quality and performance advantages for years to come.
What Is an Aluminum Extrusion?
Aluminum extrusions are the physical results of the aluminum extrusion process, which forces an aluminum alloy through a cross-sectional die using a powerful ram. The aluminum emerges from the die opening in the same shape as the die. Aluminum extrusions can take on various shapes, such as round tubes, channels and angles, and can be either hollow, solid or semihollow.
Powder coating aluminum extrusions helps strengthen their structures while giving them a more visually appealing look.
Versatile Finish Options
Powder coating offers a wide array of finish options you can choose from based on your application and preferences.
Color
You can find powder coatings in organic and inorganic color options ranging from dark browns, blacks and grays to bright red, yellow, orange, blue and green. They come in dozens of versatile hues, giving you complete control over your product’s appearance.
Texture
You can powder coat your aluminum extrusions in various textures, depending on your desired outcome. These texture varieties are ideal for hiding surface imperfections while enhancing the aluminum’s overall appearance.
Examples of popular powder coating textures include:
- Sand: The sand texture gives surfaces the appearance of sandpaper and exhibits increased friction.
- Wrinkle: These surfaces look similar to the sand texture but have a tighter, rougher consistency for better grip.
- Hammered: A hammered texture emulates a golf ball or orange rind with small, glossy bumps for greater durability.
Gloss
Powder coating can also give off a smooth and satiny effect with its many gloss variations:
- Matte: This is the flattest gloss type, giving off minimal shine.
- Satin: This gloss is shinier than matte but still doesn’t present a reflective surface.
- Medium: A medium gloss is slightly more reflective than satin and has less surface friction.
- Full: This is the most lustrous finish type, giving off a shiny and highly reflective appearance.
Lasting Performance and Durability
Powder coating technology has advanced considerably in recent years, making this finish more robust and durable than ever. Powder coatings can be formulated to meet American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) 2604 and 2605 performance specifications for aluminum extrusions, making them ideal for architectural use.
Because powder coating is thick, it bonds well to aluminum, preventing peeling and chipping. Its tough composition and alkalinity resistance has made this coating useful in high-traffic environments.
Environmental Friendliness
This substance contains zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or solvents commonly found in liquid coatings, meaning it isn’t hazardous to the environment. Unlike wet paints, powder exercises a one-coat process, making it highly economical. You can also collect and reuse powder coatings after spraying them to minimize waste.
Cost Efficiency
Powder coating aluminum extrusions is a low-cost process compared to other finishing methods. Though powder coating has similar material and equipment costs to liquid systems, it offers enhanced savings in all of the following areas:
- Energy
- Production
- Waste disposal
- Labor
- Regulatory compliance
With so many opportunities to cut costs, powder coating serves as an affordable alternative to other coatings.
Experience the Benefits of Powder Coating Aluminum Extrusions at Keystone Koating
You can invest in powder coating for your aluminum extrusions at Keystone Koating. We’ve spent over 30 years providing our customers with start-to-finish powder coating services and are always looking for innovative ways to improve our processes even further.
Contact us to learn more about our powder coating services today!