In the world of finishing, constantly evolving technologies and the regular addition of new options can make it hard for a consumer to know what the right choice is. While powder coating has proven superior when compared to traditional liquid paint, other coating methods offer similar advantages as powder and therefore can be harder to differentiate.
One such option is electrocoating, also known as e-coating, electric painting, electrophoretic coating and electroplating. While electrocoating and powder coating both achieve the same end – a substrate coated with an organic finish – the product used and the method of transferring the product differs, resulting in certain advantages and disadvantages.
How Electrocoating Works
The electrocoating process deposits liquid paint on a material through four distinct steps: pretreatment, electrocoat bath, post rinses and bake oven. In e-coating, the prepared material is immersed in an electrified tank with a special liquid paint that is attracted to the material as a result of electrochemical oxidation. The material is then baked in an oven to set the paint.
How Powder Coating Works
Thanks to Cadillac Coatings’ state-of-the-art patented Paintline, the powder coating process takes place entirely on a production line that synthesizes many steps into just one. It takes only minutes for a piece of material fed into the Paintline to come out the other side completed and already cured. During the process, charged powder coating particles are deposited onto the material before the built-in baking stage occurs.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Electrocoating
ElectroCoating certainly has its positives. During the application process, already deposited paint becomes an insulator and the electrical current is then diverted to spots where paint has yet to adhere. Many argue that this makes for an even coverage with no extra buildup. However, the ultra thin layer of deposited paint has drawbacks when it comes to durability and corrosion resistance. Further, most e-coating is not UV resistant, which means it must be followed with another layer of protection after it is baked. Often, that additional layer is applied via powder coating.
Electrocoating vs Powder Coating
Along with aesthetics and sustainability, durability is the third pillar of a finished Cadillac Coatings’ product. The hardness achieved through the combination of the powder itself and how it is applied and cured offers unmatched hardness and excellent weatherability – including colour and gloss retention as well as humidity and UV resistance. Powder coating has proven time and again to outlast other coating types when it comes to exterior finishing applications.
At Cadillac Coatings We Strive To Do Our Best
At Cadillac Coatings, we welcome challenge. New products and applications such as electrocoating encourage us to look within our organization and carefully review our finishing process. We strive to always do our best, not because we want to win – but because we believe our clients deserve it. When it comes to selecting materials and finishes for both building exteriors and interiors, we consider ourselves experts because we’ve put the work in and seen the results with our own eyes.
To find out more about our mission to always do our best contact us today!
