What Is Powder Coating and How Does It Work?

When choosing a construction material for a branded retail display, carbon steel is one of the more malleable and versatile materials for use in a variety of applications. While carbon steel is a relatively simple construction material to machine or form, it’s not necessarily impervious to structural degradation over a long period of time, particularly in the face of extreme environmental conditions.

Unlike some other construction materials, carbon steel is compatible with a range of finishings or coatings to enhance and extend its service life in floor displays. Powder coating is not only one of the more common finishing techniques to reinforce the strength and resilience of carbon steel — particularly if the steel you’re using contains a lower percentage of carbon — and it’s also one of the most effective.  

With this in mind, let’s take a look at what powder coating is, and how powder coating your steel display can help you increase the longevity and value of your retail fixture.

How does powder coating help protect carbon steel?

Powder coating is a dry finishing process that uses different combinations — depending on the application — of polymer resins, adhesion agents, and other additives to seal the workpiece. These ingredients are first pressed into an extremely fine powder, and then they’re applied to the steel through an electrostatic spray application. 

The electrostatic charge is key in helping to ensure the coating actually sticks to the surface of the material. Once the coating is applied, it must undergo a thorough curing process before it can be used in the construction of something like a retail display or fixture. The three most common methods of curing a powder coat are: 

• Thermoset curing. This method uses a heat source to cure the powder to the carbon steel. However, the chemical reaction that takes place is permanent, and the steel cannot be melted or softened in order to be reformed. 
• Thermoplastic curing. Also centered around using a heat source to cure the powder, thermoplastic curing does not alter the chemical composition of the workpiece, thus allowing it to be melted or softened after curing. 
• UV curing. As you may suspect, UV curing uses UV light to cure the powder coat. The UV method not only requires less heat for the same quality cure, but it also makes for a faster curing process to help increase your speed-to-market. 

It’s also important to understand the different types of powders you can use to coat your carbon steel retail displays and fixtures, especially because certain powders are more ideal for specific applications. The most common types of powders include: 

• Nylon powders. One of the most common bases used in powder coating, nylon powders are incredibly durable and provide a high degree of protection. As such, nylon powder coating is well-suited for outdoor applications to help carbon steel displays retain their structural integrity and appearance.
• Polyester powders. Polyester-based powders can lack some of the protection found in nylon powders, but they’re still a highly-effective coating option, particularly compared to paint or other liquid coatings. Polyester coatings do offer strong resistance to UV damage, which also makes them valuable for outdoor use.
• Epoxy powders. Epoxy powders offer perhaps the highest degree of corrosion protection. However, epoxy-based powders are extremely sensitive and vulnerable to both heat and light. This makes epoxy-based powder coatings more ideal for indoor retail fixtures and displays.

What are the benefits of powder coating your retail displays?

Powder coating the carbon steel used in the construction of your retail displays and fixtures offers a couple of key benefits in helping to maximize your investment. First, powder coating a carbon steel frame or rods helps fortify the steel to better withstand everyday wear and tear, and it also helps your display hold up better to environmental conditions like wind, rain, humidity, or heat. 

For example, powder coating a carbon steel display used to advertise holiday tree pricing at a tree farm will help ensure the display can be used for upwards of 10 years. 

In addition, powder coating can also help to preserve the appearance of your retail display, regardless of whether it’s used indoors or outdoors. Whereas paint is more susceptible to chipping, flaking, or peeling, powder coating creates a smooth, even surface that is less likely to show blemishes or wear over long periods of use. 

Plus, textured or patterned powder coating can provide an enhanced visual appeal but with the added bonus of long-term stability and reliability. 

What’s more, powder coating can be a more cost-effective finishing technique in large part because the components necessary to create the coating can be purchased based on the project’s exact size or specifications. This means you can powder coat small workpieces without having to purchase excess materials as is sometimes the case with other kinds of finishings. 

Powder coating also helps you accelerate your speed-to-market, as the curing process usually requires less time compared to the drying process for paint or other types of finishes. 

Franklin Display Group has helped a number of brands — retail and otherwise — leverage the combination of powder coating and carbons steel to create high-quality displays and fixtures that are designed to last. Our planning and design, engineering and prototyping, and manufacturing teams have the skills and experience to produce custom displays based on your precise specifications and requirements. 

Contact us today to get started on your next display project.