Thermoplastic Powder Coatings

Plastics are often sold as small pellets. However, well-known grinding techniques can transform the pellets into free-flowing powders. In such form, polyolefins are ideally suited for thermoplastic powder coating applications.

Powder coating is a method that can be used to apply finely divided, dry, solid polymeric coatings by dipping products into a fluidized bed or by spraying them electrostatically.

Developed in the 1950s, powder coating applications range from packaging materials such as paper or foil to football facemasks, playground equipment and outdoor furniture, such as benches and waste receptacles.

For powder coating applications, the correct polymer should display a unique combination of properties. Polymers with excellent adhesion to many substrates provide the base coating needs for extended service life. Also important is a polymer coating that offers high toughness and impact resistance, high flexibility and resistance to many polar and non-polar chemicals. For coaters looking for the flexibility to tailor the coating color and performance to fit specific application needs, the polymer should be compatible with many fillers, pigments and additives, such as light stabilizers for outdoor applications.