Powder Coating Gloss Reduction Techniques

By Nathan Biller, ChemQuest Powder Coating Research

Different aesthetic requirements for powder coatings necessitate formulators to be able to produce finishes in any level of sheen, from full gloss down to dead matte. By default, a basic powder coating formulation will exhibit a 60° specular gloss of 90 or higher. A number of different methods can be employed to reduce the luster to a semigloss or matte finish. Some of these techniques involve the incorporation of mineral fillers or wax additives to impart the desired appearance, while others utilize resin chemistry to create a microscopic texture on the coating’s surface, as shown in Figure 1.