The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

  -----

Stenciling on Powder Coat

We use powder paint to coat our packaging racks. We must stencil information onto these racks. Our problem is finding a suitable paint or ink that will adhere to the powder coat finish. What we are using now can be rubbed off.

Linda Phelps
- Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, USA
2003

There are many applications similar to what you want to do. Appliance (range/oven/washer/dryer) control panels are the first to come to mind. Demarcation is silk screened onto powder coated panels for light and knob settings. I would question a few geographically beneficial silk screeners in your area. As far as the powder coating formulation that you are using, I would recommend a "dry" coating if you have a gloss requirement less than 50. (Resin content less than 60% of TTL Formula). If you are applying a higher gloss make sure that there is no wax in the formula. PTFE and other waxes are a rather common component in powder formulations and tend to rise to the surface of the cured coating to "fake out" gloss meters and provide abrasion resistance to the cured coating.

Andy Peal
Automotive Components - Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
2003