When talking about the variety of coating options available for various applications, it’s clear that coatings are indeed capable to protect different substrates and prevent performance issues to occur. High performance coatings, for instance, are always at the spotlight when this matter is brought up in the table. But what really made such coatings able to do its job? Well, there are many things involved but one of the most important factor that can optimize component performance is the coating application.
The method of applying the coat depends on the component itself and the environment. For instance, bath deposition of inorganic coatings with the use of electrolytic method largely relies on the bath chemistry. It can also be a very lengthy and complex process. Huge and uniquely shaped components would be more challenging to process due to the varying current densities within the bath. But thanks to special anode design and placement which can create acceptable thickness on many components.
A good alternative to applying metallic high performance coatings is the use of selective plating. The process is known to be great at protecting the substrate and optimizing the performance of critical components efficiently. It’s ideal for on-site applications or where the area is hard to access but is not recommended for low value, high volume applications.
On the other hand, for applications that require minimum coating thickness and where components have larger surface areas, airless spray gun is the best option. It can produce thicker coatings on large component structures much quicker than other methods. Such method is usually done using electrostatic technology to allow the coating to penetrate into the smallest recesses that otherwise won’t be reached using low velocity powder jet.
So, clearly, appropriate application method for high performance coatings is very critical to ensure effectiveness of the treatment and not to compromise the performance of the component.