Jul. 02, 2024
Minerals & Metallurgy
Check out the most common questions we get asked about performance powder for architecture! Here they are &#; along with the answers you need to help you specify architectural grade powder coatings!
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This is probably the most common misconception with powder. &#;Powder coating&#; is actually a pretty generic term &#; it covers lots of different product types or chemistries that are used on many different applications. We make all sorts of different powder coatings, and we certainly don&#;t put the same type of powder coating on the curtain wall or façade of a building as we do on a refrigerator or a push bike! There are 3 different architectural grades of powder coating:
Check out our ebook for more information.
2. So how are your fluoropolymer powders different to 70% PVDF liquid coatings?
IFS 500FP, like most other Fluoropolymer powder coatings uses a different chemical structure. Liquid PVDF uses PVDF (polyvinylidene difluoride) resin. IFS 500FP uses FEVE (fluoroethylene vinyl ether) resin. Both are fluoropolymers but the chemical structure is different. FEVE fluoropolymers use the carbon fluorine bond, which is extremely difficult to break, to deliver awesome durability. FEVE Fluoropolymers often only require a single coat on aluminum &#; but deliver the same protection as 2, 3 or 4 coats of liquid PVDF.
Absolutely. If the powder is applied by a registered applicator to architectural aluminum, then a fluoropolymer powder will come with a 20 year exterior warranty for color/gloss/chalk etc. and a super durable powder comes with a 10 year warranty for the same.
4. Why don&#;t you need more than one coat on aluminum? Are you sure this is right?
This always confuses people &#; whether it&#;s in deciding if you need a primer or specifying the coating correctly. 99% of the time, high performance powders are a single coat application. They will deliver the same thickness, protection and durability as equivalent liquid paints but in a single coat. This is due to the way they are made and the chemical make up of the coating. Even metallic/mica powder coatings can be single coat applications. For more details check out the chapter in our ebook! So when you specify powder &#; make sure you change the number of coats in the spec!! The exception to this is when working with steel. A powder is primer is suggested with steel as the pretreatment options simply aren't as good. If corrosion is a concern use a zinc rich powder primer and then the powder top coat.
Ok! Don&#;t take our word for it &#; check out our Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for each of our architectural grade powders. IFS architectural powders don&#;t require chrome-based pretreatment, never require chrome based primer, contain no solvents and therefore negligible VOC, do not create toxic sludge in either manufacture or application and can be reclaimed and recycled or reused. The list goes on.
The most common issues are with percentage of resin and number of coats. If you are specifying Fluoropolymer powders, watch out for the resin percentage. Unlike PVDF liquid paints, which only use 70% Fluoropolymer resin, FEVE Fluoropolymers use 100% Fluoropolymer resin. The resin is what gives the coating its durability and weatherability so this is a very good thing! Make sure you specify 100% FEVE Fluoropolymer resin!
For most powder applications, when it comes to number of coats, make sure you amend you spec wording to take into account the fewer number of powder coating coats required!
We always wonder if liquid PVDF coating companies get asked the same question as their warranty is exactly the same! The 20 year warranty ensures the color and gloss won't fade to within certain Delta E requirements over the 20 years. This doesn&#;t mean on day one of year 21 they will suddenly fade drastically, it just means they no longer have to stay within the DE parameters.
Yes &#; and it&#;s used regularly. It simply becomes a two coat system - with a powder primer the first coat. As we mentioned above, if corrosion is a concern depending on the type of steel. then a zinc rich powder primer is recommended. Other than that, the steel is blasted/pretreated and then the powder applied in the same way. Check out our e-book for more info!
There are many different types of powder coating applicators, from fabricators like Kawneer, to OEMs like Construction Specialties and window companies like Sierra Pacific and Starline, to professional coaters of all sorts of different size and capability.
Just as you wouldn&#;t use any old powder to put on the curtain wall of a building, you have to use a registered applicator for performance Fluoropolymers and anything requiring a warranty. Registered applicators have been through strict auditing and testing procedures, including being tested to the relevant AAMA performance requirements. They are also retested regularly. Registered applicators also have the ability to provide a warranty. The coating company provides the warranty to the coater, and that is written into the warranty that is provided on the job. The good news is that many companies you already know and use are registered applicators, making it easy to switch to powder coating. There are registered applicators all over the USA and beyond, and the number is growing all the time. To get the most up to date list that&#;s applicable to your project, simply contact us and we&#;ll be happy to provide it to you!
They sure are. Companies like SHoP, SOM, Arcadis, Elkus Manfredi and Handel Architects to name but a few, have specified and used powder on all sorts of different buildings. Check out some of these super cool example of buildings featuring high performance powder on the exterior!
More details on all of these questions - and more - can be found in our free ebook. Download "Performance Powder for Architectural Applications".
Looking for a non-toxic, natural colouring dye for D.I.Y projects or your next cosmetics creation? Consider mica powder!
Mica powder is a versatile colourant for arts and crafts projects, epoxy resin crafts, soaps and cosmetics. Just a teaspoon of this natural mineral can add shimmer, sparkle and vibrant colour to any project. Unfortunately, it&#;s not as widely known as other industrial colourants like dyes.
I believe that should change. That&#;s because mica powder is:
You might be wondering: What is mica powder exactly? And what is it used for? This guide features everything you need to know about mica powder, with tips and ideas for how you can use it in your next project.
WHAT IS MICA POWDER & HOW IS MICA POWDER MADE?
Mica is a coloured powder that&#;s made from a natural mineral called Muscovite. Muscovite is a silicate mineral, in the same family as quartz. Before it&#;s processed, mica comes out of the ground in large pearlescent sheets or flakes, which have a naturally shimmering look to it.
Mica flakes are ground into a fine powder, which is usually an off-white or khaki colour. Natural oxides are then applied to the mica with heat to transform it into a vibrant colour.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Mica Powder for Building. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
NATURAL VS SYNTHETIC MICA POWDER: KEY DIFFERENCES
Natural mica is mined Muscovite, which is prized for its glittery appearance. Synthetic Mica on the other hand, is made from natural minerals, but is created in a lab. The result is a mineral called fluorophlogopite, which mimics the shimmering effect of natural mica. Key differences between natural and synthetic mica include:
MICA FAQS: EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT MICA POWDER
Here are some answers to the most commonly asked questions about mica powder:
What&#;s the difference between mica powder and pigment powder?
Pigment powders are either natural or synthetic colourants used in art projects. The biggest difference between mica and pigment powder is in appearance. Pigments have a matte finish, whereas mica adds color along with a natural shimmer.
Where does mica powder come from?
The majority of mica is mined in India. In fact, more than half of all mica originates in two Indian regions: Bihar and Nellore. Countries like Belgium, Brazil and China also produce mica and mica powders.
Is mica powder considered natural?
Natural micas are made from naturally occurring minerals, which are ground down, and tinted with tin or iron oxide or dye. Therefore, for most natural micas, all of the components can be found in nature.
WHAT IS MICA POWDER USED FOR?
Use mica as a colourant
Add shimmer with mica powder
Swirl colours in soaps and epoxy resins
To finish paper crafts and projects
To create custom paint colours
For colouring cosmetics
Use mica to colour epoxy
Wax craftmanship
There are really endless uses for mica powder in arts and crafts world.
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