Powder coating is a type of coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder which is then heated to fuse into a protective layer.
One of the main reasons is that with powder coating almost 100% of the powder is utilized whereas with wet spray painting there is unavoidable loss caused by loss of thinners and overspray.
The main purpose of any coating is to protect and or decorate. In order to achieve good adhesion so that the powder’s protective qualities are optimised, the surface should be well cleaned and free of oils or grease. If not treated, the powder film will blister and lift off in a relatively short time. The type of Chemical used for the preparation can vary depending on the level of adhesion and under film corrosion protection that is required.
Coatings are subject to mechanical damage. If the damage exposes the metal surface that surface will rust and the corrosion will begin to creep under the paint surface around the damaged area. Also any surface area that was not prepared properly can begin to corrode under the paint surface and this corrosion will also spread unhindered.
Good adhesion by surfaces being clean, dry and free of oil, rust, salts and other contaminants will inhibit this rust creepage. Also increasing surface roughness of the prepared surface by shot blasting or chemical conversion coatings results in a greater surface area and increased coatings adhesion.
Chemical Conversion coatings have the added advantage of depositing an inert layer between the surface and the paint that actively combats the progress of corrosion. Iron and Zinc phosphate solutions are commonly used as preparation for steel prior to coating to improve adhesion and reduce corrosion creepage.
The primary function of a grab adhesive is to bond substrates together while the primary purpose of a sealant is to seal a joint or space against movement of liquid, gases or solid material. Sealants are generally required to have good flexibility. Many sealants can act as good adhesives, but don’t have the wet tack required specifically of a grab adhesive.
If your joint or glue-line needs to be painted over, then use a Polyurethane sealant as silicone sealants cannot be painted over.
Anaerobics, that include many of our threadlockers, pipe sealants, retaining compounds and flange sealants, are products that cure in the absence of air. These are products that are designed for metal-to-metal assemblies although they are sometimes used for other materials as well. The presence of metal (ions) accelerates the cure of these products. When you assemble parts with an anaerobic and you have excess squeeze out, outside the joint, this will not harden due to the anaerobic nature of the product. Simply wipe the excess away with a common solvent like acetone or isopropyl alcohol. Typically anaerobics fully cure in 24 hours at room temperature under normal ambient conditions when properly used. (Henkel)
The anaerobic bottles are specially formulated oxygen-permeable polyethylene bottles that allow air to pass through the wall of the bottle to maintain stability of the liquid product inside the container. The bottle is also not filled to the top for stability purposes. A 50 ml bottle does indeed contain 50 ml’s of product in a larger bottle. (Henkel)
For thru hole applications, such as a nut and bolt combination, threadlocker is applied just to the bolt, coating 3 or 4 threads, going all the way around the diameter, and then assemble. On the other hand, it’s critical to apply the threadlocker to both male and female threads for blind hole applications such as a bolt going into a closed housing. If it’s applied just to the male threads and torqued down, air pressure will force most of the product back out as you assemble. This will result in incomplete coverage and partial cure only, leading to premature failures. (Henkel)
With Henkel gasketing sealant, customers can be sure of:
– No shimming effect; controlled tolerances mean no need for re-torqueing.
– All voids filled, reducing the need for a fine surface finish of flanges.
– Parts that can be disassembled easily even after extended service.
– Resistance to high pressure when fully cured.
– Widely used as formed-in-place gaskets that produce leak-proof seals between mating flanges.
– Prevent leakage of moisture, gasses, fluids, or contaminants.
– Remain a liquid when exposed to air, but cure when confined between mating flanges
– Provide a low cost, high quality alternative to molded rubber, paper, metal and other hard gaskets.
Adhesives are often the only possible way to join disparate materials like metals, plastics or glass to one another. According to the American Chemistry Council, using just 2.2 pounds of adhesives can reduce vehicle weight by 55 pounds, while increasing vehicle stiffness and building corrosion protection.
Henkel products make an important contribution to safety, comfort and value retention:
– Safety: through components made of highly rigid structural foams that absorb impact energy in the event of a crash.
– Comfort: through innovative sound-deadening materials that improve vehicle acoustics.
– Value: through pre-treatment systems for car bodies that optimize corrosion protection and paint adhesion.
Original Equipment (OE) refers to motor glass products which have been manufactured according to specific requirements from the Original Equipment manufacturer, e.g., Ford.
Whereas the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) is a provider of quality standards, management systems and business improvement processes. They conduct regular and stringent product testing to ensure that only products which are fully compliant can bear their SABS mark.
In today’s vehicles, the windscreen forms an integral part of the structural integrity of the vehicle. For example, an incorrectly fitted windscreen which ‘pops out’ during a rollover accident can cause the roof of the vehicle to collapse on you. Also in a frontal crash the windscreen must remain intact when the passenger airbag inflates. If the windscreen has ‘popped out’ then the airbag has nothing to stop the momentum and the passenger could be potentially thrown out of the vehicle resulting in serious injuries or even death.
