We are very proud to announce that Powdertech Corby has been awarded QUALICOAT accreditation at the highest level - 'Seaside approval'. Seaside or marine environments are notoriously challenging for metal protection, requiring enhanced resistance against salt water sea-spray, and wind-borne sand particles.
This confirms for you that our powder coating services offer:-
- A pre-treatment system that offers a very high level of corrosion and abrasion resistance in even the most challenging environments of aggressive salts and heavy pollutants.
- Technical expertise in application necessary for achieving the 'Seaside' approval.
- Premium architectural powder coatings with excellent durability and colour retention.
- Reassurance - our services will be monitored by Qualicoat on a regular basis.
- Continuous in-house testing to ensure that our coatings meet the highest levels of performance.
More details on what Qualicoat approval actually means are given below.
What is Qualicoat? QUALICOAT is the globally recognised quality label for the powder coating of aluminium. It is a non-profit international organisation, set up in 1986 by several national organisations who were keen to raise and standardise the quality of coating on architectural aluminium throughout Europe. The organisation is based in Zurich and is committed to maintaining the quality of coating on architectural aluminium.
How did we gain accreditation? To gain the QUALICOAT accreditation, we have shown that Powdertech’s pre-treatment and powder coating processes, laboratory testing and records and internal control procedures meet the strict criteria set out by the organisation. This includes rigorous independent testing for performance, durability, and resistance to weathering, as well as compliance with environmental regulations. The accreditation process also includes unannounced on-site inspections to ensure that the company continues to meet the required standards. Powdertech’s accreditation ensures that your project / metal fabrication will receive both pre-treatment and powder coating at the highest level of expertise during application and the highest performance in service..
What is Qualicoat 'Seaside'? We are delighted that our processes meet this, the highest approval level. Introduced in 2008, QUALICOAT ‘Seaside’ class of powder coating specifies that the minimum removal of aluminium surface is increased to 2g/m2 offering a more robust pre-treatment for areas where atmospheres carry corrosive salts (chlorides) and other aggressive pollutants. This is the specification that Powdertech are licenced for. Seaside or marine environments are notoriously challenging for metal protection as resistance against saltwater sea-spray, sand particles and wind must be achieved.
Performance and service life of any architectural powder coating relies on its ability to adhere to the aluminium substrate. If there is no ‘key’ to adhere to, the powder coating is prone to chipping or flaking off in use. As powder coating is porous at the molecular level, an untreated aluminium substrate, subject to weathering, will oxidise under the coating if it is not completely sealed. So, no matter how good the visual quality of the powder coating that is applied, it will not offer the anticipated life expectancy should the thin ‘conversion coating’, part of the pretreatment process which offers the seal and key to the surface of the aluminium, be poor, or indeed non-existent.
Contamination of aluminium from manufacturing processes are removed from the surface as part of the pretreatment process undertaken by immersing the material in an alkaline solution which etches the surface, removing a minimum of 2g/m2 of aluminium. Without this surface etch potential corrosion (or Filiform corrosion, a spider like corrosion that creeps under the powder coating) could form around the contaminants on the aluminium substrate once coating has been completed.
Correctly pre-treated, architectural powder coated aluminium will offer an extensive life expectancy in most locations. The pre-treatment process is actively monitored by members (licensees) of the Association and third party inspected by IFO, QUALICOAT UK & Ireland’s independent test house.
Seaside Class pre-treatment is advisable for projects that are within 2km of the British coast or tidal estuary. Powdertech can advise in more detail.
Technically, the QUALICOAT Specification is the most accessible specification readily available in the UK & Ireland as it specifies minimum etch requirements within the pre-treatment process for enhanced ‘Seaside’ applications and includes regular finished powder coated surface laboratory tests for filiform corrosion resistance, something which BS EN 12206-1 does not require.
Information from Qualicoat’s UK and Ireland website: https://www.qualicoatuki.org/seaside
