how to keep powdercoat from peeling?

Question

I have a sensor housing that is used for winter plow trucks. I have my fabricator of the housing powder coat it. It seems to have good integrity, but some tests I have been doing with thermo-shock from about 0 degrees F to 170 degrees F have shown some flaking problems. The material is flaking in sheets, like the metal may not have been prepared properly.

Can someone give me a quick prep course so that I can talk intelligently to the powder coat supplyer? What prep questions should I ask? Are there different types of powder coat that may be better for the harsh environments seen by a winter plow truck?

rec.crafts.metalworking

Steve Lusardi · Accepted Answer

It is called clean, clean and very clean. The surface must be degreased thoroughly and sand blasted to a oo finish. For longevity there should be no sharp edges. Every edge should be radiused.Steve

Steve W. · Answer

I'll assume this is a steel housing?In that case you want the steel fabricated. Degrease it with a good solvent. Then for prep you can sandblast it with 100 grit. Once blasted a run through a chromate bath and then coating with a polyester blended powder should do the job.Powders come in a LOT of formulations. They are not a one size fit's all solution. The proper powder on a properly prepped substrate should last at least 5 years with NO degradation of finish quality. Explain what the problem is and they will likely change the formulation.We did that a lot at the powder plant I worked at.

RoyJ · Answer

All the major snowmobile mfg's use an e-cote dip for corrosion resistance and UV stabilized powder coat over the top for impact resistance. The e-cote has the advantage of a slight roughness that gives 'bite' for the powder coat.Eric Anders

how to keep powdercoat from peeling?

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