Fast Facts – Powder Coating
Powder coating is an advanced method of applying a decorative and protective finish to a wide range of materials and products. The powder used for the CM Truck Beds process is a mixture of finely ground particles of pigment and resin, which is sprayed onto a surface to be coated. The charged powder particles adhere to the electrically grounded surfaces until heated and fused into a smooth coating in a curing oven. The result is a uniform, durable, high-quality, and attractive finish.
Powder coating gives one of the most economical, longest-lasting, and most color-durable quality finishes available. Powder coating is also highly protective of our environment. Additionally, powder coated surfaces are more resistant to chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing than other finishes.
CM Truck Beds go through a chemical pretreatment
process that consists of four stages:
- First, an alkaline cleaner is used to remove and shop dust, cutting oils, dirt, etc. Then, a rinse is used to remove the alkaline cleaner. Third, an iron phosphate conversion coating is used to enhance the adhesion and corrosion protection of the powder coating, which is followed by a final rinse of deionized water to remove the excess iron phosphate.
- After pretreatment, the beds go through a gas convection dry-off oven. This oven dries the parts and is set at a temperature of 375 degree Fahrenheit. The beds are in the oven for 221 minutes.
- After the dry-off oven, the parts get sealed at the joints. This process helps repel moisture and preserves the finish of the bed.
- Next, the beds are powder coated with DuPont Super Durable Polyester. The powder is applied at approximately 2.0 to 3.0 mils. The electrostatic guns by Nordson are set at a voltage of 60 to 90 Kv’s (60,000 to 90,000 volts). Because the beds are grounded by the conveyor, the electrostatic powder is deposited onto the parts.
- The beds then go through the gas convection cure oven for 31 minutes at a temperature of 400 degree Fahrenheit. In the cure oven, the powder flows and crosslinks to achieve its final appearance and physical properties (i.e. gloss, impact, flexibility, etc.)
- After exiting the cure oven, the beds are cooled and are ready for final trim.
Call Midwest Motors in Eureka Missouri for all of your CM Bed needs. We have a large inventory of CM Flatbeds in stock, we are a full service dealer, sales, installation, and repair.
