Steps To Produce PVDF Coating On Aluminium

PVDF coating (a fluoropolymer product containing 70% polyvinylidene fluoride resins) has excellent
resistance to fading, anti-blooming, anti-air pollution (acid rain, etc.), strong UV resistance, strong
crack resistance and ability to withstand harsh weather conditions. Therefore, PVDF coated
aluminum and aluminum sheets are mainly used in windows, curtain walls, and buildings in offshore
areas.

FONNOV ALUMINIUM introduced the PVDF coating spray production line into its new extrusion
plant, providing customers high quality PVDF coated aluminum profiles for architectural usage. The
famous brands of fluoropolymer coating as well as strict production process enable its PVDF coating
aluminium profiles to meet the AAMA2605 standard and GB/T5237.5 standard. Below is the
introduction of PVDF coating process on aluminum.

The PVDF coating process uses multi-layer spray to give high performance to the durability and
weather resistance. From the surface treatment of aluminum to the spray process, the production
flow and quality test must be strictly controlled, so that the final product can reach the requirement
of AAMA-2605 standard, and GB/T 5237.5 standard. The multi-layer spraying process has 3 types of
coat system: 2-COAT system, 3-COAT system, and 4-COAT system. The most common ones are
three sprays (referred to as 3 COAT) and two sprays (referred to as 2 COAT). The following describes
the process. you also can learn about it from this video：PVDF (Fluoropolymer) Coating in FONNOV
ALUMINIUM Plant CHINA.

PRETREATMENT

Before coating the aluminum, the surface of the aluminium piece should be degreased and
chemically treated to creat a chrome film, which help to increase the adhesion and oxidation
resistance of the coating and the aluminum surface.

1 COAT – PRIMER COATING

A primer coating can improve the coating’s resistance to penetration, enhance the protection of the
substrate, stabilize the metal surface layer, and enhance the adhesion of the top coat to the
aluminum surface. The thickness of primer coating is generally 5-10 microns.

2 COAT – COLOR TOP COATING

The color top coating is the key layer of the spray coating. It provides the decorative color required
for the aluminum to meet the design requirements and protect the metal surface from the external
environment, acid rain and pollution. To prevent UV rays from penetrating. It greatly enhances the
anti-aging ability. The top coating is the thickest layer of paint in the spray. The thickness of the
color top coating is generally 25-30 microns.

3 COAT – CLEAR TOP COATING

The main purpose of the clear top coating is to more effectively enhance the lacquer coating’s
resistance to external erosive, protect the color coating, increase the metallic luster of the coat
color, and make the appearance more vivid and brilliant. The coating thickness is generally 10-15
microns.

The total thickness of the three coatings is generally 40-60 microns, which can be thickened for
special needs.

CURING

3 Coat process generally requires two times curing. The curing temperature in the oven is generally
between 230°C and 250 °C, and the curing time is generally 10-15 minutes. Different PVDF coating
manufacturers will have their own instruction on curing temperature and time. Some coating plant
adapts one time curing according to their own experience.

For 2 COAT process, there’s a little difference from 3 COAT process. 2 COAT process is followed by a
color top coating after primer coating. The thickness of primer coating is generally 5-10 microns,
and the thickness of colour top coating is 25-30 microns. 2 COAT process only require one time
curing, the curing temperature is between 230 °C and 240 °C, and the curing time is generally 10-20
minutes.

VDF Coating manufacturers generally can guarantee a coating life of 20 years or even 30 years.
Also , FONNOV ALUMINIUM should emphasize that high-quality paint materials, proper production
process, strict quality controlling, as well as regular effective maintenance on PVDF coated
aluminum final product are all essential factors for long-term weatherability.

What’s the different between PVDF and Powder coating?

Spray coating is a very important process in the manufacture of aluminum wall panel (aluminum
cladding). Electrostatic spraying uses electrostatic spray guns for spraying. Strictly speaking, electrostatic
spraying is divided into electrostatic liquid spray coating (Polyvinylidene fluoride, short for PVDF) and
electrostatic powder coating (powder coating). Generally, in accordance with different spraying objects
and specific effects, the spraying methods are relatively different as well. Each of them has its own
characteristics

DIFFERENCES

Different paint materials

PVDF spray coating uses a well-tuned (modulated) paint, which is a fluid, and powder coating uses a
powdered solid.

Different spraying sites

PVDF spray coating is mainly carried out in a paint booth, and powder spraying is carried out in the
powder spraying chamber.
Different ways of working

PVDF spray coating uses a diaphragm pump or a plunger pump to apply pressure and static electricity
for spraying. The powder coating is sprayed by shaking or inhaling, and electrostatic powder is sprayed
on the gun mouth.

Different drying methods

Drying of PVDF can be both natural leveling drying and baking. Drying of Powder coating is mainly by
baking.

Different spraying effects

After natural leveling drying of PVDF, the coating film is very thin. The powder coating has good
performance of anti-corrosion, high adhesion, and thick coating film, but it tends to discolor (color fade)
if exposed to sunlight for a long time in the exterior area.

We normally suggest our customer use PVDF coating in the conditions of exterior usages, especially for
the places with strong sunlight, or the places are humid like the seashore. And powder coating can be
used for interior decoration.

Different price

For the same brand, the price of powder is generally 10 dollars cheaper than paint.

SUMMARY
Powder coating has the advantages of high efficiency, energy saving, less pollution, environmental
protection, high paint utilization, and good coating performance. The disadvantage is that it is not
resistant to sunlight.
The advantages of PVDF spray coating is high brightness, thin coating and stable color, strong
weather resistance, not easy to fade, and discoloration.

We need to choose different spray coating methods according to specific products and
requirements. In the aspect of the aluminum wall panel, powder coating can be used to produce
special effects such as various wood grain or stone pattern.