Tips to Getting Color Right in the Powder Coating Industry

Powder coating is a dry finishing process that can improve efficiency, maximize production, and enhance environmental compliance. This coating is available in virtually limitless color options, so it can be hard to know what color to use. Read more about how to pick a powder coat color.

What Is Powder Coating?

Powder coating is a dry powder made from curatives, flow modifiers, and leveling agents. This mixture is applied to the surface using electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) and a spray gun. The electrostatic charge helps attract the powder particles to the surface, creating a bond. Once the powder coating is applied, it is cured with heat.

This durable finish protects the surface from rust, corrosion, and exposure to the elements. It can also be used as a decorative finish to give the equipment a certain color.

Tips to Get Color Right in the Powder Coating Industry

Getting the right look for your equipment can be challenging since there are so many options available. If you’re looking at a powder coating color chart and still cannot decide which color to go with, follow these tips for picking a powder coat color:

• Get in different lighting: Light influences how we perceive color. View your powder coating sample in the sunlight, a shadowed space, and fluorescent light, and put the light source at different angles. These different viewing conditions will give you a good picture of what the powder coating will look like.
• Decide on a color style: If you are powder coating just one part of your equipment, you can choose an accent color to make it pop, a contrasting color to stand out, or a complementary color to fit the look.
• Hide the part’s imperfections: Dark and metallic powder coating colors best hide imperfections on the part’s surface.
• Choose a semi-gloss or satin finish: A semi-gloss or satin powder coating finish gives you the right amount of reflection to make the part look nice. A glossy finish can be too shiny in some conditions.
• Go for an industrial look: Matte and flat finishes are the best choices if you want a tough or commercial look for the piece.

Stay Consistent With Color With Spectrophotometric Solutions

Spectrophotometric analysis of your powder coatings provides the best quality control by measuring the exact color of the powder coating, allowing for color matching. This analysis will help your company win bids for clients who want a specific color of your powder-coated products. Once you achieve the desired color, an accurate, feature-rich spectrophotometer will equip you to ensure consistency and repeatability.

The ColorFlex L2 from HunterLab is a versatile solution designed to withstand rugged industrial environments. This compact workhorse seamlessly integrates into production floors as well as quality assurance labs, so you can implement measurement at every process step. Doing so gives you the insights you need early on to help reduce the potential for costly rework, customer rejections, and material waste.

We've developed the ColorFlex L2 with a focus on the end-user experience. A built-in wizard simplifies set up and slashes training time, while powerful Essentials 2.0 software makes analyzing tristimulus and spectral data easier than ever.

ColorFlex L2 also offers an extensive library of built-in color indices and scales for comparison with the industry's most widely accepted standards. Easily capture and compare color data to these or customize your tolerances for your needs. A suite of connectivity options allows for quick data migration and transfer to process control systems.

Additional benefits of the ColorFlex L2 include:

• Built-in diagnostics to keep your device running at its best.
• Accurate data and documentation support, with an internal camera featuring sample-positioning assistance and image recording to help reduce discrepancies.
• Standalone functionality as an independent color workstation with no additional laptop or PC required.

Contact HunterLab Today

At HunterLab, we've spent over 70 years developing the industry's most innovative spectrophotometric solutions and perfecting the science of color measurement. Our equipment helps manufacturers of powder-coated products ensure high quality, customer satisfaction, and consistency. Contact us online for more information about powder coating color codes or expert advice on the best option for your application. You can also read our blog to learn more about color.