Processing

The raw powder coating materials are generally mixed dry and then fed into an extruder for melt mixing. Once cooled, the extrudate is then chipped and ground into the final product. The chips are ground to a very specific particle size distribution depending on the application.

The particle size is important to the performance and appearance of the coating. The size of the powder particle can have an influence on the behavior of the material in the delivery system, the charging systems, and the final film characteristics. When reclaimed powder is used, the coater must maintain a consistent particle size distribution. There are several methods by which particle size distribution can be measured.