A fluoropolymer coating does not just change the appearance of an object. This type of technology is widely known as surface engineering – improving, protecting or altering the properties of the surface to which it is applied. Each coating system is manufactured to a rigorously controlled specification to maintain product consistency at all times.
A typical fluoropolymer coating consists of the following basic substances:
These are the principle ingredients that provide the most functional properties of the coating such as low friction, non-stick and non-wetting. The fluoropolymer could be either PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PFA (perfluoralkoxy), FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), other substances such as PPS (polyphenylene sulphide). In some cases, a combination of the above ingredients is used to achieve specific properties.
These are the binder systems that give strength and hardness to the coating and also are the ‘glue’ that gives adhesion, after all how do you make a non-stick coating stick?
These can be either a solvent or water based (aqueous), to contain all of the other ingredients. These substances evaporate or are burned off during flash-off and curing cycles.
Used to provide colour, hiding, reinforcement, additional dry lubrication or electrical conductivity.
All of the ingredients are added by weight as opposed to volume. This is the most accurate way of maintaining product consistency. Batch sizes can be as much as 1000 litres and perhaps as small as one litre.
Some of the ingredients are processed in special milling machines to produce smooth pastes and bases. The finished product is then mixed, during which time, tests are carried out and any adjustments made to ensure that the product complies with strict specifications. Records of the manufacturing process are retained as well as a sample of each production batch for quality control purposes.
Once the mixing process is completed to the required standard, the finished product is filtered to ensure a smooth consistency, free from any large particles. It is then decanted into suitable packaging for shipping.