Buy Powder Coating Powder – The Complete Powder Guide
How to buy powder coating powder – what you need to know
Powder coating is not just the coating used to hot-up vehicles. It is a highly protective coating method that is used to protect substrates from corrosion, chemicals, weather, and physical damage while providing an attractive drip-and-sag-free finish. Powder coating is also a cost effective coating option as it produces little to no waste; Powder overspray can be collected and recycled, which is partly the reason behind its environment-friendly cred. All these qualities make powder coating attractive, and there are many companies in the US from which you can buy powder coating powder.
In this article we look at powder coating powders and give you the information you need to buy the right one. We also look at where to buy powder coating powder and the brands and companies that sell them in the US.
Powder coat colors and effects – and how they affect powder price
Most powder companies will produce a range of “standard” colors, with the option to choose another RAL color that they can produce for you. These options will be represented in their powder coat color chart or their sample cards. Powder coat colors can also be tailor-made for your specific needs, though not all companies provide this service. The color options will start with the basic solid color standard, and then get more exciting (and more expensive) from there.
Powder coating comes in a range of special effect finishes which are not available in liquid paint. These special powders include:
Powder coat colors range from standard to metallic and candy.
- Gloss – A powder coating finish comes in levels of gloss from flat/matte with no shine to full gloss , which is the shiniest. Between these are satin and medium gloss.
- Color effects – These include translucents, which add color while also allowing the metal substrate to gleam through, and dormants – A bright candy finish, this is a two step effect with a typically metallic base coat and a clear top coat. These are particularly used on bikes.
- Metallics – A metallic sheen or sparkle effect caused by the inclusion of metallic pigments like aluminum flake or mica, ranging from shimmer to glitter. They come in bonded and unbonded (which describes how the metal is incorporated). Unbonded is the cheaper but less consistent finish.
- Textures – These include sand (sandpaper appearance), hammer (like a hammered metal surface), wrinkle (commonly seen on items like gym machines – rough yet smooth, with depth), and river vein (an almost wet look finish with a dimpled and crinkled effect).
$12 per pound is the average powder coating powder price, but of course this changes with brand and specializations. As an example, AkzoNobel’s Interpon 100 epoxy powder in basic white retails at $622.81 per 55lb (25kg) box, breaking down to $11.30 per pound. When you look to buy powder coating powder you quickly realize the more extreme the effect or outrageous the color or texture, the more expensive it is.
Metallics in general are more expensive due to the extra processes involved in making them, the special textures require extra thick film build or specialty application techniques which also increase the price. The more specialized the powder, the higher the price. Powders are commonly sold by the pound, with the cost-per-pound decreasing as the volume increases.
Choosing the right powder coating resin for your application
Like liquid paint, powder coating powder is available in a range of resin types from acrylic to polyurethane. Another important factor to understand is the curing process of the powder. In this respect powders can be divided into two broad categories: thermoset and thermoplastic. In a thermoset resin, the molecules form crosslinks as they cure. This permanently alters the chemical composition of the coating. Thermoplastic resins have longer chain molecules to begin with and do not form crosslinks. Consequently, they can be re-melted if exposed to high enough temperatures.
They are both applied through the usual powder coating methods, but thermoplastic powders are more flexible, where thermoset powders are heat stable. Most powder coating powders are thermoset powders. Below is a list of the main resin types and their applications. It is important to choose coating products based on the substrate, environment, and use that it is required for.
| Powder Coating Powder Type | Description | Uses | Product example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACRYLIC POWDER | A thermosetting resin with good chemical resistance. | Mainly used in the automotive industry for smooth, chip resistant clear coats. | PPG Enviracryl |
| EPOXY POWDER | A thermosetting, impact resistant, durable, corrosion resistant, chemical resistant, and highly adhesive powder. Not UV stable. | Mostly used in as a protective coating in interior applications and factory equipment. Fusion bonded epoxy powder coating is used to protect pipelines from corrosion. | -Axalta Nap-Gard FBE Powder Coating -Sherwin Williams Powdura Epoxy |
| POLYESTER POWDER | The most common thermosetting resin type due to its flexibility, durability, mechanical resistance, chemical resistance, versatility and low cost. TGIC and TGIC-free formulations. | Used for exterior applications. There are also Super Durable Polyesters which offer extended color and gloss lifespans. | -Prismatic Powder Color Range -Sherwin Williams Powdura TGIC Polyester |
| HYBRID EPOXY-POLYESTER POWDER | Toughness, chemical resistant, color stable and highly decorative. It has better weatherability than pure epoxy, but decreased chemical and corrosion resistance. | Commonly used for office furniture, consumer products, retail/shopfitting and interior applications. | Cardinal Paint Epoxy Polyester Hybrid H-Series |
| FLUOROPOLYMER POWDER | Thermoset fluoropolymer powder coating which has excellent weatherability, UV stability, and color and gloss retention. | Typically used in exterior industrial and architectural applications (like PVDF coating) as they are the longest-lasting, best-performing outdoor powder coating option. | -PPG Duranar -Axalta Alesta AR500 |
| NYLON POWDER | Thermoplastic powder used where friction reduction, resistance to corrosion and chemicals, and a cosmetic finish are required. | Kids playground equipment, shopping carts and wire shelving use nylon coating, as well as applications in the healthcare industry. | AkzoNobel Interpon TP RTS |
| POLYURETHANE POWDER | A thermosetting powder with excellent corrosion resistance, UV stability, and durability, but more expensive than alternatives. | Used for exterior applications with a need for hardness and a lower film build, furniture, garage doors, lighting, etc. | -AkzoNobel Interpon 200 RTS -PPG Envirocron Polyurethane |
| SILICONE POWDER | A heat resistant powder coating for temperatures up to 1000°F. | For high heat applications such as engines and exhaust systems, stoves, ovens, lighting and others. | AkzoNobel Interpon HT 450 RTS |
Where to buy powder coating powder: US brands and companies
If you are looking to buy powder coating powder for your business, or have a business that requires powder coating powders for specialty applications, there are several big companies operating in the US who provide powders for your needs. These companies include AkzoNobel, PPG, Sherwin Williams, and Axalta, just to name a few. Below is a table outlining a few of the products available on the American market.
For the at-home hobbyist with wheels or garden furniture to coat, there are many online portals that sell powder for your needs. The bigger companies like AkzoNobel are unlikely to provide a single pound of powder for a small application, and a pound will get you very far. Companies like Powder Buy The Pound, Prismatic Powders, The Powder Coat Store, and American Powder Coatings Inc sell a range of powder colors, effects, and chemistries by the pound for these types of applications.
| Powder Coating Powder Company | Company Headquarters | Powder Coating Powder Brand |
|---|---|---|
| AkzoNobel Powder Coatings | 150 Columbia Street, Reading, Pennsylvania 19601 | Interpon and Resicoat |
| Axalta Coating Systems | 50 Applied Bank Blvd, Suite 300, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania 19342 | Alesta, Abcite, and Nap-Gard |
| Cardinal Paint & Powder | 1900 Aerojet Way, North Las Vegas, NV 89030 | E-Series, H-Series, P-Series |
| PPG Industrial Coatings | 1 PPG Place, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15272 | Envirocron, Enviracryl, Duranar, Coraflon and Silversan |
| The Sherwin-Williams Company | 101 W. Prospect Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44115 | Powdura |
| Valspar Industrial | PO Box 1461, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440 | Greenbar, Pipeclad, and Valde |
If you are looking to buy powder coating powder, we are here to help! We will connect you with one of our coating partners to provide you with the best coating for your project. The quotation service is free, and our experts will help you determine the right coating. Simply use the “Request a Quote” button beneath this article and fill out the contact form so we can get started.
