More durable than standard paint, polyester powder coating is used to add colour and to protect metal in the outdoor environment.
Initially the pigment is ‘puffed’ as a powder onto the metal to be coated. It’s attracted to the metal by means of an electric charge. The seat is then baked in an oven to cure the coating to the metal at a temperature of around 180˚. After powder coating we then add a lacquer, which gives the colour depth and the metal another protective layer.
This doesn’t make the seat scratch or chip resistant, no coating is, but if treated properly powder coating is said to have a lifetime of around 10 years.
Powder coating is more environmentally friendly than traditional painting as it doesn’t use solvents, there is minimal CO2 emissions in the process and there are no waste products generated – any excess powder is collected and reused.
