Plating of metal surfaces vs. Powder coat paint?
Again calling out to engineering people..
Has anyone ever plated mild steel for non-product contact surfaces to combat rust? We have a base for a sifter screen that is mild steel and we keep painting each year. Our maint team suggested powder coating and the powder coat person suggested plating. It is a difference of only $300-400 but if it will not flake off or rust than this is good. I am wondering if anyone has used plated steels in lieu of stainless? Thanks
Garrett
I was an R&D coatings chemist (exterior automotive) for just under 30 years before changing my career to food safety management. My former employer was bought by one of the world's largest chemical company's and split up with some divisions sold. I have experience with high solids liquid coatings as well as powder coatings. I'll just say that ALL coatings eventually degrade and begin to lose adhesion to the substrate and begin chipping at some point.
Many factors are involved as you can imagine. I have some knowledge of metal plating as this was my father's area of expertise, and in my opinion from a food safety point of view high quality stainless ssteel plating would be much more advisable from a chipping/peeling perspective than any powder coating that I'm aware of.
I was an R&D coatings chemist (exterior automotive) for just under 30 years before changing my career to food safety management. My former employer was bought by one of the world's largest chemical company's and split up with some divisions sold. I have experience with high solids liquid coatings as well as powder coatings. I'll just say that ALL coatings eventually degrade and begin to lose adhesion to the substrate and begin chipping at some point.
Many factors are involved as you can imagine. I have some knowledge of metal plating as this was my father's area of expertise, and in my opinion from a food safety point of view high quality stainless ssteel plating would be much more advisable from a chipping/peeling perspective than any powder coating that I'm aware of.
G:
I came from a mfg company that applied thermal sprayed surface coatings to steel. You may try looking into that, as well. I was in Operations but not Engineering; esquef may be able to comment on these coatings but you may also consider contacting some of these companies for quotes.
If you'd like you can message me and I can provide you the contact information for the company I used to work for; they have been doing that work since 1981.
Good luck!
~Emily~