All alum

Most powders have very good chemical and corrosion resistance, but again it is resin specific. Epoxies have excellent chemical resistance. Polyesters and Urethanes are typically used for aesthetic coatings on Cycles and have good resistance. Powders do have an advantage over liquid paint here. If you can, imagine how a liquid coating dries or cures. Solvent has to escape from the film as it "dries down". If you were to look at this under a microscope, you would see a bunch of little pinholes that look like small volcanoes. This is an avenue for moisture and chemicals to penetrate the film more quickly, accelerating corrosion. Powder simply melts down at cure temperature and (usually) isn’t prone to pin holing.

Oils and greases are removed in weak alkali or neutral detergent solutions and the surface is etched to remove heavy oxides. After rinsing, the aluminium or steel is blasted with alum oxide (the best blast media known to man). Than the part is dipped into a chromate or phosphate solution to form a conversion coating This film is chemically attached to the part, finally rinsed in demineralised water.Parts are coated with quality polyester powder paint (meets aircraft standards).

Note: Improper pre-treatment will allow coating to lift and stretch, allowing small cracks to form and not be seen until it is to late.

To see more on powder coating go to www.alphatechcoatings.com

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