Quick test to distinguish polyester,epoxy, or hybrid powder coating

A. My suggestion to obtain IQC approval would be the use of a check list:
1) Leave nice cool office and make your way to the "Goods Inward Dept"
2) Ask to view the powder to be used on the items destined for the "Exterior Job"
3) Lift container or ask for it to be raised to eye level.
4) Turn container to enable the descriptive label to become visible.
5) Read label.
6) If description meets with set down parameters i.e. "Polyester powder XYZ" then stamp with approval and accompany approved material to application area and obtain written acceptance of same for files. If not, send to reject area awaiting further inspection.
Of course it goes without saying that at the initial interview stage for IQC staff... management should ensure that all parties involved with the movement of powder from stores to application area should have some degree of reading ability :-)

Hi, Terry. Your answer, satirical as it is, may be the best answer. But it doesn't answer the question that Paul asked, and which I find interesting. Is there a way or not whereby one can check that a given quantity of powder -- say in a hopper -- contains UV inhibitors?

Regards,

A. The alcohol test is imaginary. My question would have been "if there were such a test, who will administer it if you can't even get someone to look at the #%$&@^%$ box before they put it in the hopper?" But Terry beat me to it so I won't ask. kudos.
The proper procedure in the case of not knowing the identification of the material in the hopper, is to toss out the powder and recharge it with the proper powder and identify an operator/engineer/manager that will ensure and be held accountable for using the right paint. Works every time.

A. Hi Ted,
I thought that I would check that the answer I was going to give would be similar to what the larger powder mf were also doing. My contact (he wrote one of the first published formulation PC books) stated that the only polyester where UV absorbers are required is in transparent. The pigmented versions prevent a large amount of damage, due to UV rays, by the reason of being pigmented...therefore,It is not cost effective to add UV absorbers, he stated. In the past I found that if the poly transparent is only partially cured then the film will show up a slight violet tint (due to the additive). This disappears on attaining full cure.

A. There is no instant test to distinguish between exterior and interior powder, The only thing you can do as a consumer is ask for a test report for that type of product based on ASTM standards, its the only instant way of knowing

A. Yes Karan, it's called a Technical Data Sheet(TDS), All one has to do is request it from the supplier.

A. Sorry Karan there is an even quicker way to determine what powder is contained inside... this has already explained by Sheldon & myself... READ THE LABEL!

A. Hi Kannan.

"PP" can mean polypropylene powder; but we assume based on context that you are inquiring about "epoxy-polyester" vs. "pure polyester"?

I'm sure you'll get some satirical answers, as did the inquirer before you ... but the salient point is that the vendor must certify what he has produced for you, for a whole bunch of reasons, including the fact that even if you were able to test 10 parts in some practical fashion, the next part could still be different.

Regards,

A. It is almost impossible to visually discern the difference between say a hybrid and a polyester powdercoat of the same colour.
Let us assume that the EP you refer to is an epoxy-polyester hybrid and let us assume that the PP you refer to is a pure polyester.
Then to discern the difference between two coated samples (one of each) it would probably be easiest to look at the solvent resistance of each.
You will need to research a suitable solvent to differentiate the samples.
You will however find marked differences between powder types with various solvents.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Bill

Q. Dear Sir,
2nd request: How can I identify powder paint, whether it's epoxy or pure polyester or hybrid?
Is there any Titration or Drop test or physical test to check out on the spot?
Manufacturer mentions on the package but I want it cross checked. Kindly tell.

A. Hi Shaikh. Three powder coating experts -- a manufacturer (Terry), an applicator (Sheldon), and a training specialist (William) -- have all said or implied above that it can't be done. Surely, the experts are right that you should dump a hopper if you don't know exactly what's in it.

Still, I don't believe that chemical analysis and failure analysis would be so completely powerless in this one particular area that expensive powder coated components should always be dumped if their paper trail is not indisputable. Good luck.

Regards,