Powder Coating on Ceramics
Ceramic materials have played pivotal roles in shaping civilizations, from ancient pottery vessels to modern technological advancements. Up to this day ceramics are indispensable for some industries due to their unique combination of properties like heat resistance, electrical insulation, chemical durability, and mechanical strength. When talking about aesthetics however, there are things to be improved – improvements that can be made with powder coating!
Powder Coated Ceramics Explained
Powder coating ceramics is a specialized powder coating technique of applying powder particles onto a ceramic surface. It is a different process compared to standard powder coating applications, as unlike traditional substrates like metal, ceramic is not a good electric good conductor.
But, while that’s all well and good, why powder coating over traditional finishes like ceramic glazes, you may ask? It is just an alternative for visual enhancement or is there more to it? Well, powder coating offers improved durability and abrasion resistance, that regular ceramic finishes cannot.
Application Process for Ceramic Powder Coating
So, how are ceramics powder coated? Like glass, wood and plastics, ceramics do not conduct electricity. That’s why in this case coaters must look for alternatives to the “traditional” Tribo- or Corona application methods. In practice manufacturers rely on hot coat application, where to substrate is heated enough for the powder to gel and therefore stick to the object. One thing to look out for here is outgassing of the substrate. In theory, methods like conductive pretreatment (e. g. TIGER Static Fluid) could also work for these applications.
Where to Find Powder on Ceramics
Powder coated ceramics are most often found with flowerpots. Aside from aesthetics powder coating here also provides abrasion resistant surfaces, which are especially important considering that these objects are often moved and stacked on top of each other. While the most common this is however not the only decorative application possible!
Key Takeaways – Why Powder Coating on Ceramics Makes Sense
All in all, powder coating on ceramics is a fantastic alternative to traditional glazes to not only change things up visually but also improve several functional capabilities of the ceramic surface. Are you processing ceramics and want to lift you surface finishing to a new level? Then be sure to get in touch – we are looking forward to consulting you on your individual case! Also, check out our webshop to browse through our extensive range of powder coating finishes while you’re at it!
