[Healeys] Powder Coating Springs

[Ron Ray]

It seems anyone that buys some sort of spray equipment, and builds an
enclosed space with some sort of heating capacity, can call themselves a
powder-coater.  Finding a company that performs work in accordance with
industry standards might be a good idea.
 
Aluminum is powder-coated all the time with thermoset fluorpolymer powder.
It is baked at 450 degree F oven temperature (410 degree F material
temperature) for approximately 12 minutes.  This process does not reduce the
structural capabilities of aluminum, a material with a much lower melting
point than steel.
 
The problem with heat-setting a finish onto some steel materials at 450
degrees F, is that some steel "off-gasses:" when heated.  This causes small
"bubbles" in the finish.  It is my understanding that this does not alter
the structural characteristics of steel.
 
  Ron
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: healeys-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Chris Dimmock
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 3:38 AM
To: Charlie Frazer
Cc: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Powder Coating Springs
 
Here is what a spring guy says....
 
"SO to answer the question, is it OK to powder coat springs? Well that
depends. In the amount of heat applied during the curing process. Too much
heat is harmful to springs. Once springs begin to get hotter than 350
degrees Fahrenheit they begin to anneal, that is the steel starts to get
soft, the temper is lost and the spring will not support any weight.
 
In order to safely powder coat springs the temperature MUST remain below 350
degrees!!!!"
 
 <http://www.eatonsprings.com/powdercoating.htm>
http://www.eatonsprings.com/powdercoating.htm
 
 
 
 
Sent from my iPhone
 
On 14/05/2013, at 5:23 PM, Charlie Frazer <
<mailto:cfrazer at jcomm.uoregon.edu> cfrazer at jcomm.uoregon.edu> wrote:
 
> Kees,
> I respect your expertise.
> Could you tell me the specific evidence on which your caution about 
> powder-coating  is based?
> What specific effects are there on springs and roll-bars heated at 400 
> degrees?
> Thanks,
> Charlie
> 
> On May 13, 2013, at 10:38 PM, Oudesluys wrote:
> 
> These relatively low temperatures of 400 do effect some some types of
spring
> steel of springs, anti-roll bars etc. so beware. There are little 
> effects
on
> other parts.
> Kees Oudesluijs
> NL
> 
> 
> Op 14-5-2013 6:11, Charlie Frazer schreef:
>> Thanks to a number of you who expressed your personal opinions on 
>> whether
> to
>> paint or powder coat suspension springs, as well as discussing 
>> various techniques for media blasting.
>> 
>> My question is this:  Does the heat involved in powder coating really
> result
>> in taking the temper out of springs as suggested in some recent posts?
>> I'm not a metallurgist, but it appears to me that the temps in powder
> coating
>> are around 400 degrees, while springs are tempered at 900-950 degrees.
So,
>> does the relatively low temperature in the powder coating oven really
> affect
>> springs?  If so, how about A-arms and sway bars?
>> 
>> Thanks for your comments.
>> ___
 <mailto:Healeys at autox.team.net> Healeys at autox.team.net
 <http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys>
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys
 
Unsubscribe/Manage:
<http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/ronald-ray@sbcglobal.net>
http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/ronald-ray@sbcglobal.net