Baking Temperature

Today’s industrial mass production would not be possible without the use of baked coatings. Drying times (baking times) varying between a few minutes to half an hour are common in the production process.
Today’s finishes must meet very high mechanical and appearance QC requirements, including
– Optimum adhesion
– Sufficient elasticity in case of deformation through mechanical stress
– Long-term weather stability, e.g. corrosion resistance
– Gloss and color stability
– Optimum hardness
Optimum curing is the prerequisite for achieving these specifications. The properties and the exact temperature distribution of the oven must be known in order to avoid rejects and ensure consistent quality. Poor curing can lead to failure:
– Insufficient adhesion to the substrate
– Insufficient elasticity to resist mechanical stress
– Insufficient surface hardness
– Premature aging, brittleness and chipping, leading to rust and corrosion
–  Discoloration and loss of gloss
Any of these damages can be costly to repair.

Thermoset coatings (acrylic, polyester, epoxy or alkyd resins) are established finishes for industrial applications.

The right catalysts and amount of heat initiate the cross-linking process among the various components. The result is a compact paint system consisting of polymers, resins, binders and pigments, which is to be chemically resistant and long-lasting.

Paint properties largely depend on cross-linking quality. Today’s binders are very sensitive to insufficient cross-linking.