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Reclaiming Metallic Powder

2005

We are applying a silver metallic powder to our product and currently spray to waste in a booth capable of reclaiming.
I have been told by both the powder vendor and the organization I am now employed by that they have tried to reclaim the powder but the finish could not meet our tight specs.
My questions are:
1. Can I achieve an consistent automotive finish using reclaimed metallic powder.
2. Our system is eight years old. Has there been advances in reclaim technology in that time?
3. Can this solved by reformulating the powder?

Chuck Stairs
Powder Coat/Paint Supervisor - Rockford, Illinois, USA

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Nothin' like experience Mr. Stairs, listen to your people that have already tried. The system isn't the reason metallics are hard to reclaim. Regardless of your method, the reclaim isn't going to look like the virgin powder because it tends to be full of fines, and the fines change the appearance. I'm not really sure what reformulating powder means, you can't re-extrude it...?

Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina
2005

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2005

Hi Chuck,

Re-claiming metallic powder coatings is difficult but not impossible. The main reason people can not re-claim these powder coatings is that they are using the wrong type. Generically there are two types of metallic powder coatings 1. Dry blended and 2. Bonded. (I guess this is what you mean by re-formulating) If the powder is dry blended when you try to re-claim it the metallic pigment will "separate" from the base powder and the re-claimed powder will appear dull and less metallic. However if you use a bonded powder (the metallic pigment is "stuck" to the base powder) no separation occurs so it is possible to re-claim. This is where Sheldon is partly correct. If re-claiming bonded powder the particle size of the reclaim must be closely monitored as well as the Virgin : Re-claim ratio. If too many fines are in the sprayed powder the appearance will be duller than the original powder and, like any other powder, you will have application problems such as "spitting" and poor charging. This type of powder is expensive and with proper controls can be re-claimed saving your company a great deal of money.

Hope this helps,

Drew Devlin
- Lincolnshire, UK