Progress in Paint Application Technology

By Cynthia Challener

Powder or liquid. Waterborne or  solvent-based. Thermal or radiation cure. Decorative or protective. Architectural, industrial, or automotive OEM. No matter what type of coating, where it is used, and its primary purpose, the performance of a paint job depends not only on the formulation but also on the effective application of the coating. And both the equipment and opera­tors play a key role in achieving a successful coating process.

Numerous types of application technologies exist, and selection of the most appropriate method and specific equipment for a given coating opera­tion can have a significant impact on its cost and overall performance.

The consequences of poor selection can be significant. Inefficient paint application processes based on poor layouts and designs can result in mil­lions of lost dollars per year through high rejection rates, increased scrap, and additional material and labor costs. Greater waste and pollution control expenses are often common, and quality issues can be related to poor appli­cation processes as well.

Because there is such a wide variety of options, it is often a challenge to choose the most effective system. Liquid coatings can be applied with brushes, using spray technology, or via continuous methods such as roll, cur­tain, and air knife technology. The application of powder coatings is typi­cally done via electrostatic spray technology. UV-cured coatings, which can be solvent-free, water-based formulations or powder materials, can be ap­plied in a variety of ways. There is also the choice between manual and auto­mated application systems.