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Everything you've always wanted to know about E-Coating, but were afraid to ask:

 

E-Coating is a method of priming steel. This method uses electrical current and works on the principle of  "opposites attract".
   
To electrocoat a steel part, an electrical charge is applied to a steel part immersed in a bath of oppositely charged primer particles. The primer particles are drawn to the metal part where they accumulate, forming an even, continuous film over every surface and in every crevice and corner.
 

 

The process involves two steps:

  Chemical Stripping   E-Coating



Chemical Stripping:


Old steel must first be cleaned of rust, paint, filler and other dirt and contaminants. The stripping process starts by
baking the part for 8 hours at 800°F. Warping does not occur because the temperature changes are very gradual. Following baking, the part is submerged in a hydrochloric acid solution. This removes any remaining residue. Next, the part takes a quick dip in a neutralizer bath to wash off the acid solution. The cleaned, chemically stripped piece is then coated with a water soluble oil to inhibit any surface corrosion until the part is e-coated.

 


E-Coating:


Following chemical stripping, the part proceeds into a wash to remove the water soluble oil and prepare the part for coating. After washing, the part is immersed in zinc-phosphate which is a rust inhibitor. The part is then dipped in a vat of PPG epoxy
primer, which is electrostatically applied. The electrocoat bath consists of 80-90% deionized water and 10-20% primer solids. The deionized water is the carrier for the primer solids. The primer solids consist of resin and pigment. Resin in the primer provides corrosion protection, durability and toughness. Pigment in the primer provides color and gloss. During the electrostatic dip process, the thickness of the primer on the part is regulated by the amount of voltage applied to the part. Once the coating reaches the desired film thickness, the part will no longer conduct the electrical charge and the accumulation of the primer on the part is completed.

After leaving the coating vats, the part is sent to the bake oven. The bake schedule is about 45-60 minutes (or until well done), with part temperatures at approximately 375° F.


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Redi-Coat

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734-771-3190

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