Stainless Steel Powder Coat

Adhesion of powder coating to stainless steel.

Stainless steel powder coat.

316 stainless steel tube is one of the grades that you might choose to buy selecting the right series or grade may be such a hard task. Yet sometimes people finish stainless with paint powder coat or ironarmor coating. We have had success on 304 and limited on 430 but no success on 316. The product shows a flat or a matte effect.

Powder coating stainless steel is risky at best and i would be very cautious. Stainless steel passivates to make it corrosion resistant and is usually left raw for its silvery luster. The electronics last much longer if you keep it cooler. What is causing this adhesion problem.

For the powder coating process should parts be pre heated in an oven before coating g p. One of the factors you will have to look at is whether the stainless steel you are buying is powder coated. From the above described process it is clear that the surface roughness of the 304 316l stainless steel material determines the spraying effect and there is a certain degree of roughness that can get a reliable surface adhesion. A stainless steel enclosure unpainted in the direct sun will reach 300 f inside the cabinet but powder coat it bright white and the temperature will stay below 120 f in full sun.

What is stopping the adhesion of powder coatings to stainless steel. I always have to ask why a product would be made of stainless steel and then powder coated. I know color is a factor but it is still surprising to invest in stainless steel and then cover it with an organic coating. The powder coated steel mainly uses acrylic powder polyester powder etc.

Learn the why and how of covering stainless with a colorful finish. Clearly the type of stainless steel might also makes a difference in that a 304 stainelss might give better adhesion than a 316 stainless.